Handling Network Winter 2018

2018 winter winter Vol XXVIII

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

Featuring: - News - Viewpoint - Review - Product - Case Studies - Advice - Warehousing - Logistics - Plant - Education - Supply Chain

Whatever your business

TOYOTA – TRUSTED BUSINESS PARTNER. Toyota Material Handling Ireland now brings to the market the complete range of Toyota counterbalanced forklift trucks and BT warehouse equipment, supported by services and added value solutions offering the customer a one stop shop for all your material handling needs. From hand trucks, pallet trucks, order pickers and reach trucks to gas, diesel and electric counterbalance trucks, we offer you the widest product range in the business, making Toyota Material Handling the ideal partner for your business, whatever it is. www.toyota-forklifts.ie

www.toyota-forklifts.ie or Toyota Material Handling Ireland at Toyota Ireland, Killeen Road, Dublin 12. Tel: 01 4190200.

contents winter 2018

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

Volume XXVIII Issue 4

4 4

21

6

Viewpoint

7

Pick ‘N’ Mix

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Cover: Yale

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Review: IAA CV

16

Warehousing

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Advice: Stage V

19 20 20

Product

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Plant: UK Hire

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Supply Chain: IEA

Logistics: SEAT

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6 Published by:

Fleet Publications, D’Alton Street,

Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Ireland F12 E7P2

Editor:

Jarlath Sweeney – jarlath@fleet.ie

Contributors:

Johanna Parsons, Paul White, Howard Knott,

Rob Van Dieten, HSA, IEA Advertising:

Mary Morrissey

Administration:

Denise Owens

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.handling-network.com

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winter 2018

news

100th Aisle Master articulated forklift for Eddie Stobart

From left to right: Darren Monks, Carrylift; Michael Gilmore, Carrylift; Brian Smith, Eddie Stobart; Mark Brown, Carrylift; John Myers, Eddie Stobart; Anthony Rooney, Combilift and Aisle Master.

The 100th Aisle Master articulated forklift purchased by Eddie Stobart was recently handed over to representatives of the company at Combilift’s manufacturing facility in Monaghan, where the Aisle Masters are manufactured.

Eddie Stobart acquired its first Aisle Masters for its Contract Logistics and Warehousing Division which operates over six million square feet of high quality state-of-the-art storage facilities, strategically located around major transport hubs across the UK. In the subsequent six years it has consistently expanded its fleet and the Aisle Masters are in operation at eight of

Eddie Stobart’s warehouses across the country, from Glasgow to London.

Following changes in the Eddie Stobart business model and coupled with an increase in customer demand, a decision was made to introduce the Aisle Master product into the operation.

Whilst ensuring continued optimum pallet density in existing narrow aisles was essential, the build quality and reputation for extreme reliability were the deciding factors in choosing these trucks.

Eddie Stobart’s Warehousing Division operates ambient, chilled and specialist storage space for customers in the soft drinks, pharmaceutical, confectionery and FMCG sectors to name but a few, and the electric powered 20WHE models with 2000kg capacity are predominantly deployed in sites where fast moving goods are stored.

Eddie Stobart Materials Handling Equipment Manager Brian Smith, together with John Myers, Operations Manager Dagenham Depot, visited Combilift’s new 46,500m² production facility to see the 100th truck roll off

the production line and commented: “We have been impressed with the performance of the Aisle Masters to increase productivity in our warehouses over the years, and equally impressed with the accommodating and can-do attitude of the manufacturers when it comes to any suggestions we may have. I must add that the new Combilift headquarters and manufacturing plant was very impressive!”

Martin McVicar, MD of Combilift and Aisle Master added: “We value long term collaboration with our customers and the 100th truck for Eddie Stobart epitomises our philosophy of listening to customer feedback to provide them with a solution that is 100% suited to their requirements.”

Recently Eddie Stobart Logistics took over The Pallet Network (TPN) to further add to the company’s full range of services offered to customers across the whole end-to-end supply chain, which includes iForce, which has three owned distribution centres and operates out of six customer sites and Speedy Freight which has 40 branches.

Groupe PSA’s Sochaux plant is trialling automated logistics technology The collaboration between Groupe PSA and EasyMile has been established as part of a project to automate a portion of the Sochaux plant’s logistics platform.

TractEasy is a driverless tow tractor with a maximum towing capacity of 25 tonnes and the ability to drive among other vehicles at speeds of up to 25 km/h. Developed by EasyMile in partnership with TLD, TractEasy improves operational flexibility at manufacturing plants, airports and logistics centres.

In Sochaux, the TractEasy drives up to 15km/h – the current speed limit at the facility – on a 3 km circuit and makes round trips between the supplier industrial park and the assembly shop.

Following the initial trials successfully conducted with the vehicle last May, a ‘connected’ road is being built this autumn to take testing a step further. It

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will enable TractEasy to communicate more effectively with road infrastructure, such as traffic lights, doors and level crossing to optimise the logistic loop within the traffic.

Following this step, the plant plans to operate two autonomous tow tractors in the first quarter of 2019.

They will operate in shifts on a 24/7 basis to deliver parts from the supplier industrial park to the Groupe’s Peugeot 3008 assembly line. Ultimately, they would be able to deliver all of the parts used to build the 308 and 3008, including the bumpers, tailgate and consoles. A world first in the manufacturing industry, this technology is one illustration of the “4.0 solutions” that the Sochaux plant has decided to adopt ahead of schedule in its Sochaux 2022 future’s plant project. The Sochaux plant offers a wide variety of real-life test scenarios, with rail lines, intersec-

tions, traffic lights and one-way roads.

The solution set up on this test circuit and the adjustments it requires can be easily transposed to other circuits and other locations. PSA’s Sochaux plant produces 2,100 vehicles per day for the Peugeot 308 and 3008 and Opel Grandland X line-ups.

Testing is being conducted in cooperation with EasyMile as part of Groupe PSA’s Business Lab programme, which is designed to detect, test and transform opportunities into new activities for Groupe PSA, including outside its core automotive market, in response to rapid growth in new ways of using vehicles.

winter 2018

news

MEPs vote to ban single use plastics

In an effort to save our seas and waterways, the European Parliament has voted through legislation to ban single use plastics like cotton buds, stirrers, plastic plates and cutlery. Member of the Parliament’s Environment and Public Health Committee, the Midlands North West MEP Mairead McGuinness MEP & Vice-President of the European Parliament is a keen advocator of the ban and increased use of recycling across the Continent.

“The new law is aimed at reducing waste from single-use plastic products, which is polluting oceans and clogging landfills.

Our oceans are swimming in plastic waste, much of it originating in Europe but shipped outside the EU,” stated Mairead from Strasbourg.

“The legislation targets specific plastic items, along with lost fishing gear, that account for the majority of waste found in our oceans,” she added.

Mairead cautioned that plastic products are ubiquitous and cannot be eliminated overnight, but over time. However, we must start now and eliminate non-essential single use plastics.

“Consumers are deeply concerned about the impact of plastic waste on

their health and on the environment,” she said pointing to the latest special EU Barometer indicating 75pc of citizens are concerned about plastic waste.

“We need to turn concern into action and already industry is responding to the recycling challenge and work is underway on more sustainable alternatives. However, it’s important to note that plastic plays a vital role in our society, particularly for hygiene purposes in healthcare and hospitals. Where there are alternatives available, efforts must be made to encourage consumers and producers to opt for the more sustainable options.

In Europe, we recycle only 30 percent of plastic waste and we cannot be sure that when we place plastic into recycling centres where it eventually ends up,” concluded MEP McGuinness.

Supply Chain issues look set to top the post-Brexit agenda at IMHX 2019 With more than 400 companies anticipated to demonstrate the latest technological developments that are shaping the modern logistics industry, IMHX 2019 (NEC, Birmingham, 24-27 September 2019) is set to be the biggest and most successful event in the long running IMHX series of materials handling exhibitions to date.

To date Dematic, Swisslog, Knapp, Vanderlande, Toyota, Crown, Doosan and Hyster-Yale are among the high profile exhibitors participating in the event, which will occupy some 376,000 square feet of exhibition space spread across 4 halls of the National Exhibition Centre.

Brexit will still be to the fore at the event according to IMHX 2019 exhibition director, Rob Fisher, who commented: “Brexit has put supply chain issues at the top of every company’s agenda. It is forecast that in post-Brexit Britain businesses will have

little choice but to hold more stock closer to the point-of-consumption and this means new storage sites will need to be built and existing units adapted where necessary to ensure that storage space is optimised.”

“This will require investment in new equipment and systems so there is every reason for the companies that manufacture and supply these products to be optimistic. This optimism is reflected in the high number of suppliers of intralogistics products and services that have committed to exhibit at IMHX 2019,” he continued.

“Even the post-Brexit labour shortage that is widely expected, is a compelling reason for visiting the show as a host of automated systems technology designed to make DC operations less labour intensive will be on display.”

Technology will feature strongly at IMHX 2019 and a Technology

Demonstration Zone will be supported

by AMHSA – the Automated Materials Handling Systems Association. “We will be demonstrating how e-commerce and other market developments have driven the evolution of technologies used in our industry to cope with pressures being applied to supply chains. AMHSA will be providing an interactive feature that explains picking technological developments. Our ‘Picking Through The Ages’ exhibition will demonstrate how automation brings speed and accuracy to the picking operation delivering customer satisfaction and AMHSA experts will be on hand to explain different picking technologies and provide professional advice on all aspects of logistics automation,” stated Dave Berridge, AMHSA.

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Winter 2018

viewpoint

How agile a supply chain can you afford?

One of the greatest challenges facing retail businesses today is how to keep the customer proposition attractive yet affordable.

Many retailers are drawn into a potentially damaging position where investments into complex logistics systems designed to compete through offering later and later cut-offs, diverse delivery options such as to store, locker or home, and even same-day delivery, are simply creating fixed costs that could prove damaging if circumstances change. At what point does extra capability cease to be a competitive advantage and become an unnecessary burden or an unacceptable risk?

In many instances return on investment in warehouse technology is no longer driven by cost-per-order but by an overriding desire to fulfil consumer demand by whatever means possible. Such an approach can rapidly place the business at the bleeding edge of ‘competitive advantage’.

There is a balance that needs to be carefully considered and only when all the constraints, ‘what ifs?’ and

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risks have been taken into account can the optimum solution be reached. There are wider questions too for the sector as to who should pay for service enhancements and whether greater collaboration on delivery is the only way forward.

A significant factor in this equation is the willingness of the consumer to pay extra for faster delivery. Results from PWC’s Global Consumer Insights Survey 2018 reveal that over 40% of online shoppers would pay an extra charge for same day delivery and a quarter of respondents said they would pay for getting their packages within a one or two-hour window of their choosing. Some 23% of respondents said they were willing to pay a charge for next-day delivery.

However, a big question is just how much is the consumer willing to pay for these services? Other surveys suggest that free delivery is a significant factor when consumers make an online purchase. Research conducted by Advantec in 2017 indicates that 49% of respondents rated free delivery as the most important consideration when buying online – significantly above fast-delivery at 14% and same-day delivery at 17%. So, to what extent could free delivery boost sales? And does the investment and risk involved fit with the business strategy?

Along with a huge rise in complexity around delivery options and fulfilment processes comes greater uncertainty and risk – factors that demand increased flexibility from a business to respond quickly to changing circumstances, such as new competitive offers or services, and radical shifts in demand.

To achieve this flexibility, and

to survive and thrive, modern retail businesses must now be, above all else, agile. And this agility must be built in to the very fabric of the organisation, from the way orders are managed, inventory planned and labour resources allocated, to the design of order picking processes, warehouse layout and despatch operations.

Agility is all about speed of reaction and the ability to change and respond quickly and effortlessly. For most retailers that not only means a physical change but, critically, a change in mindset too. In order to be more agile it is necessary to look carefully at the long-term business strategy, with great attention being paid to risk analysis around ‘what if?’ scenarios – something that needs to be reviewed on a regular basis, perhaps quarterly.

But of course, responsiveness and agility come at a cost and determining and understanding those costs is essential to the protection of margin and the competitive positioning of the business.

These critical factors, along with many others necessary for understanding the business case for investment, are explored in a new, free downloadable eBook “Why an agile and responsive supply chain is a must-have”. Amongst the contributors is Tim Allinson, Global Supply Chain Director of fashion brand Jack Wills, who sees the advantages to using the store network to fulfil online orders too. He says: “We have a hub store model so when we change season, if we cannot fulfil from the distribution centre, we can fulfil from the store.

That’s a definition of agility for me.”

To gain further insights and a greater understanding of the balanced business case for a more agile and responsive supply chain, download the free eBook here: https://www.bis-henderson.com/ ebook-1-launch/ Sid Holian is Managing Director at Bis Henderson Consulting: www.bis-hendersonconsulting.com

Winter 2018

pick’N’mix

Thermo King & Petit Forestier showcase Full-Electric Refrigerated Master Van Thermo King partnered with Petit Forestier, European leader in refrigeration rental to showcase an all-electric, zero-emission and zero-noise refrigerated van, based on the Renault Master Z.E. at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show in Hannover, Germany.

The 3.1 tonne GVW electric van, equipped with the market-first and IAA premiered Thermo King E-200 full-electric refrigeration unit, provides constant cooling and heating capacities independently of the vehicle operation.

“Thermo King enters a new era of transport refrigeration showing its vision of the future, where foods and goods can be transported safely with zero-emission, no noise and maximum convenience for urban populations,” said Pauli Johannesen, Vice President

The key advantages of the Thermo King E-200 include:

n Increased uptime and utilization, with an improved maintenance interval n Higher reliability with customised, tailor-made components n Improved temperature control thanks to constant capacity based on actual need of the moment

& General Manager for Truck, Trailer & Bus at Thermo King in Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA). “Together with Petit Forestier we prove that such a future is already here and thanks to the technologies leading with electricity, intelligence and sustainability we have pioneered, we can revolutionize the way the refrigerated transport operates.”

n Intelligent power management algorithm to help safeguard and optimise the power supply n Optional hold-over battery capacity independent from the vehicle n Optional embedded Thermo King telematics to allow effective management of the fleet with full visibility of both unit and load conditions.

Space saving intralogistics solutions at LogiMAT 2019 Visitors to LogiMAT 2019 will be able to review the extensive range of Flexi articulated forklift truck-based intralogistics solutions designed and manufactured by Narrow Aisle Ltd. Models in the Flexi range can operate in aisleways as narrow as 1.6 metres and are designed to improve storage, handling and customer order assembly efficiency in manufacturing and logistics environments.

Among the models on display at LogiMAT will be a recently upgraded version of the Flexi LITE, which is designed for applications where handling equipment has to weigh as little as possible – such as facilities where trucks are required to travel across loading bay dock plates into vehicles or be moved in goods lifts between floors. The popular Flexi LITE is now offered with an integrated four-stage ‘Quad’ lift mast, which means that the Flexi LITE is highly suited to the task of stuffing and de-stuffing ISO containers and

conforms to all European Stability and Security Standards, has a chassis width of just one metre and can operate in aisles as narrow as 1.8 metres.

When fitted with a four-stage (quad) lift mast, the truck can lift a palletised load weighing 1200kgs up to 6 metres high and, like all Flexi models, it is designed to work both inside and outside.

Other innovative Narrow Aisle solutions on show at LogiMAT include the Flexi AC StorMAX. An advanced intralogistics concept that combines very narrow aisle operation with the ability to store two pallets deep up to 11 metres high, the StorMAX can service over twice the number of pallet locations than a traditional reach truck.

Visitors to the Narrow Aisle stand will also be able to see the FlexiPiCK, a case layer picking order assembly solution that has been designed to eliminate manual case picking. The system provides pick rates of 1200

cases per hour per man. LogiMAT takes place at the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre on 19-21 February 2019.

www.handling-network.com

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Winter 2018

cover story

‘This is Yale’ showcases tailored industry solutions

and robotic MC15 counterbalance stacker featuring Balyo technology.

New options for existing products were also unveiled and alternative power solutions to suit an array of working environments were explored at the highly interactive event.

Normally a hub of activity of comings and goings, Weeze Airport, near Düsseldorf, Germany, was the place to be for the materials handling industry as customers, prospects and dealers from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa were invited to discover the extensive capabilities of Yale Europe Materials Handling and it’s new ‘This is Yale’ concept programme.

To showcase how the various Yale solutions can be tailored to their applications, the event featured dedicated zones for a wide variety of industries. Yale ambassadors and experts from supplier partners, including Shell, Pyroban, Bolzoni, Trelleborg, Orlaco, Balyo, and RAVAS, demonstrated their in-depth knowledge and understanding of the challenges faced by Yale customers and prospects.

Visitors to ‘This is Yale’ witnessed the launch of a number of innovative new products including: the Veracitor VX Gold Edition, the tilting mast reach truck range, and the new 16 tonne EC forklift with 1200mm load centre - the highest capacity truck Yale has offered to date. Automation was also a key focus at the venue with the launch of the Yale robotic MO70T tow tractor

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was showcased as the robotic tow tractor was shown for the first time, and industry experts demonstrated the ease of switching between the truck’s automated and manual modes. The

Zoning in on the right solution Guests at This is Yale had the option to tour up to eight zones, each applying Yale expertise and solutions to different applications:

new Yale rider tow tractor was also on display, with industry experts sharing how these Yale solutions have been developed with line-feed operations and ‘milk-runs’ in mind.

Chemical and Hazardous Materials

Automotive Visitors were guided through the Automotive Supermarket and witnessed a live demonstration of the new Yale robotic MO70T tow tractor. The innovative Balyo geoguidance system

Experts from Yale and supplier partner, Pyroban, were on hand with customised solutions for corrosive environments, precise drum handling, explosion protection, and gas detection in a series of exciting demonstrations.

The new Veracitor VX Gold Edition truck played a key role in the display, demonstrating its eight-feature bundle designed to enhance productivity while reducing overall maintenance costs.

Winter 2018

cover story

Food and Beverage

Construction Continuous, three-shift operations in the construction industry require solutions that can last while handling expensive, heavy - and often awkward - loads. Yale high capacity trucks are designed to offer optimal visibility and staff were on hand to demonstrate the reliability and versatility of Yale solutions for this attachment-rich industry.

For the food and beverage industry, equipment tailored to the environment is key to increasing productivity. From cold storage solutions, double pallet handlers, noise reduction options, and precision control tiller heads, Yale shared solutions designed to manage intensive jobs, shift after shift. The trusty GLP30VX Veracitor truck, designed to work with

Fleet and Telematics In the Fleet and Telematics zone, Yale Vision with GPS motion was shown as part of a series of demonstrations using live data from trucks operating at This is Yale. Data provides useful insights into the life of a truck, and when used correctly can help logistics managers

forks or attachments, was the main attraction with its productivity-enhancing features.

Paper and Wood

optimise fleet efficiency, operator performance, reduce their carbon footprint and lower overall material handling costs.

With dust and dirt the natural enemy of materials handling equipment in wood, paper and recycling applications, Yale solutions are designed to cope with harsh operating environments. The high capacity GDP35VX Veracitor truck, with its reversing fan, bale clamp and Pedestrian Awareness Lights, was the star of the show in the paper and recycling applications.

Meanwhile the new 16T Yale EC truck with 1200mm load centre took pride of place for wood applications.

Power Solutions Different customers require different ways to power their solutions. With the recently announced Stage V ICE engine offering from Yale, lead-acid batteries, Li-ion and hydrogen fuel cells, Yale showcased the wide variety of ways in which it can charge up an operation.

Supply Chain Solutions The story of a pallet’s journey from container to customer was brought to life, with visitors witnessing how Yale solutions can be utilised at every stage in the supply chain. The new MR12E tilting mast reach truck perfectly demonstrated its ability to operate in tight confines, while the Yale MC15 robotic counterbalance stacker featuring Balyo technology was unveiled for the first time.

“It was wonderful to welcome so many customers, dealers, suppliers, journalists and prospects to This is Yale,” said Iain Friar, Yale Brand Marketing Manager, EMEA. “Our guests travelled many miles – including some from as far as the Middle East – to join us in Germany. We thank them for their time and enthusiasm, and we hope we have shown them how vast and versatile Yale industry solutions can be. With our understanding of the challenges businesses face in a wide range of applications, we have worked

hard to provide them with the best possible solution to enhance their productivity.”

Text: Jarlath Sweeney

www.handling-network.com

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The Original.

Linde Hydrostatic Drive

Linde Material Handling Excellence at work

Ahead Through Precision Linde’s launch of the first hydrostatic transmission in 1958 marked a milestone in the history of forklift engineering. Many features have been enhanced and optimised in the meantime. However, one thing that hasn’t changed is the leading international position held by Linde hydrostatic drive.

Seamless Seamlessacceleration accelerationand andreversing, reversing,pinpoint pinpointaccuracy accuracywhen when positioning, positioning,virtually virtuallymaintenance-free: maintenance-free:the thedifference differenceisis compelling. compelling.The Thetruck truckresponds respondssmoothly smoothlyand andinstantly instantlyto to every everycommand commandwith withmasterful masterfulprecision. precision.This Thisisisexpressed expressedinin the theexceptional exceptionalefficiency, efficiency,safety, safety,reliability reliabilityand andeconomy economy with withwhich whichloads loadsare aremoved; moved;performance performancethat thatensures ensuresyour your business businessgoals goalsare arerealised. realised.

Linde LindeMaterial MaterialHandling Handling(Ireland) (Ireland)Ltd. Ltd.welcomes welcomesyou youto toan an exciting excitingnew newwave waveofofsupply supplychain chainsolutions: solutions:combining combining proven provennationwide nationwidelocal localcustomer customersupport supportwith withthe theresources resources ofofaaglobal globalleader, leader,we weset setnew newstandards standardsfor forproductivity, productivity, safety, safety,cost-efficiency cost-efficiencyand andcustomer customersatisfaction. satisfaction.

Now Nowall allour ourcustomers customerscan canexploit exploitLinde’s Linde’sworldwide worldwide expertise expertiseininengine enginepowered poweredand andelectric electriccounterbalance counterbalance trucks, trucks,as aswell wellas asour ourcomprehensive comprehensiverange rangeofofwarehouse warehouse equipment. equipment.

For Foraccess accessto tothe thebest besthandling handlingsolutions solutionsto to match matchyour yourindividual individualbusiness businessrequirements requirements call call01 01456 4566626 6626or orvisit visitwww.linde-mh.ie www.linde-mh.ie

Winter 2018

review

67th IAA Commercial Vehicles Show 2018 – Hannover, Germany

front and 3-axle rear splitting skelly,” explained David Dennison, Innovation & Design Director at Dennison Trailers.

Exhibited alongside was its new European 8-lock platform container trailer, which complimented the display of its popular patented ‘Rise & Slide’ award winning sliding bogie – two versions of same were on show.

Faymonville

• Driving product development down to the smallest detail

Combilift & Aisle-Master

• Monaghan materials handling manufacturer returns to the Hannover Messe A regular exhibitor at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show, Combilift once again promoted its latest products including the Straddle Carrier with an SDC trailer aloft which attracted the attention of visitors.

stackers were on display as well as some models from sister company Aisle-Master’s articulated, narrow aisle forklifts offering a choice of electric or LPG power.

Dennison Trailers

• The Naas based manufac turer consolidates its commitment to European markets Five prime examples from Dennison Trailers were spread around its large stand area (442m2) with members of the Dennison family along with sales team representative welcoming existing and new customers.

Dennison’s presented for the first time its patented Link trailer (Euro-Combi/Lang LGW as its known in Europe), operated on trial by Caulfield Transport in Ireland. It has a total combination length of 25.25m and a carrying capacity of 60 tonnes gross.

Combilift’s range of straddle carriers and mobile gantry provide safe, efficient solutions for even the most extreme load handling situations.

Distribution, shipping, aerospace, steel fabricators, wind turbines and precast concrete – there’s no load too large or heavy for these workhorses.

The straddle carriers enable preloading from ground level for vastly improved safety, eliminating the need for personnel on trailers, and reducing multiple handling and associated product damage.

Examples from its warehouse range of sideloader forklifts, pedestrian

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The Faymonville Group is a full range manufacturer of special trailers for heavy load transport. Its largest exhibit was the 2+6 CombiMAX combination, with its 2-axle bogie extendable to carry a payload of up to 120 tonnes.

Faymoville’s sister brand MAX Trailer had its own stand area with its show highlight a 3-axle MAX 200 Mega-trailer which features a low frame height (120mm) at the front and offering a payload of 38 tonnes. The hydraulically driven flip-tail ramp, a special feature, enables the easy loading of machinery, while the continuously straight loading platform is 100% usable. A 2-axle load bed semi-trailer – type MAX510 with 6,750mm long loading platform, extendable by 5,500mm.

Megalift SLT

• Side Loading Trailer System premiered in Hannover and Tullamore

“We also introduced a new 5-axle Twin TEU trailer, which has a 2-axle

From Emyvale, County Monaghan to Screggan, County Offaly to Hannover in Germany in the same week, the new Megalift oversize load handler and container loader

winter 2018

review

got massive exposure at the National Ploughing Championships and the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show.

Designed by Meredith Hall, Megalift’s Managing Director, in response to meeting the material handling needs of the customer, the SLT is ideal for dropping containers at collection points and has the capability to handle 35 tonnes on any ground conditions. Apart from the transport sector, Megalift is adaptable for use in the agriculture and construction industries.

The company recently opened a new 10,000 sq.ft. production facility capable of manufacturing four bespoke units per month. Interest in Megalift was very encouraging resulting from exhibiting at both venues, with strong leads on actual sales.

Such was the keenness of the German attendees that Meredith had to employ a translator so that no sales opportunities were lost. *Megalift SLT was the winner of the Irish Trailer Innovation of the Year Award 2019 at the annual Fleet Transport Awards.

ing seat belt, a larger enclosure and new pedal positions - these features ensure maximum safety and comfort to the operator, according to Nigel Brook, Product Business Manager, Truck Mounted Forklifts at Hiab (Moffett’s parent).

Various attachments can be specified such as a choice of lift heights and forks, tyres and four-way steering systems.

SDC Trailers

• Third consecutive occasion exhibiting at IAA CV Show

The award winning Moffett E-Series brings environmentally friendly emission free operations to the transport company. It has been described by one customer as a total game-changer. “Saving money on fuel, reducing our carbon footprint are no longer a nuisance to our neighbours.”

The trailers on display by SDC were the most popular within European markets, especially in Scandinavia.

Its redesigned GRP Boxvan (ENXL approved) has a 29 tonne payload and suitable to accommodate 34 pallets. Another was an extendable platform trailer configured with four axles and the option to fit a 500 mm floating deck to support the load when extended (to 21.2m). The third unit exhibited was a customised heavy-duty Stepframe Platform with tri-deck rear steering.

Palfinger F3 PX Series

• Truck-mounted forklift : technical updates

Moffett

• Purveyors of the Mounty continues to evolve From medium to heavy-duty to electric truck mounted forklifts, the M5 NX, is the latest model in the Moffett NX series, which was launched at the CV Show in Birmingham in April, and made its IAA debut alongside the all-electric E-series versions.

It is light enough to be carried on almost any truck or trailer and capable of lifting up to 2.5 tonnes. The optional Lift Assist System allows the safe unloading from one side. Changes to design include a reshaped bonnet to provide extra visibility, together with new LED lights and beacon, interlock-

during work and maximum driving stability of the carrier vehicle on the road are the key benefits of the Palfinger MB,” explained Joe O’Brien, European Sales Manager, Palfinger Truck Mounted Forklifts. “Its technology is impressive at all levels, makes jobs safer and is a dependable partner in everyday work, thanks to its longevity,” he added.

The popular PX range within the all-terrain F3 series has become even more global in design as it now features new ‘cats-eye’ styling while the technical modifications ensure increased quality and reliability.

Particular attention has been paid to better corrosion resistance and a new seat lock has been fitted to improve safety.

At the IAA, the new F3 253 PX was showcased with the Box Mounted truck-mounted forklift BM 214.

“Maximum flexibility and reliability

Enda Cushnahan, CEO of SDC Trailers, was pleased on attending the IAA commenting: “In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in demand for our trailers outside the U.K. and Ireland. This is testament to the team at SDC and the strength of our brand. We have recently opened our new expansion at our Headquarters in Toomebridge, which will increase our output of trailers by up to 50% on a weekly basis. Our vision for the future is to further increase our presence in international markets and with our team and our facilities, including the expansion, we have the operations in place to achieve this.”

Text & Photos: Jarlath Sweeney

www.handling-network.com

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Winter 2018

case study I

Supply chain knowledge for salmon farm

One of the world’s largest producers of farmed salmon has invested in supply chain technology from Infor to increase visibility and boost profits.

Marine Harvest Ireland farms salmon across the West coast. Its brands include Donegal Silver and The Irish Organic Salmon Company.

Marine Harvest ASA is one of the largest seafood companies in the world, employing 13,233 people, and is represented in 25 countries. In 2017, the company had a turnover of €3.6 billion.

Marine Harvest operates the entire value chain of its products from producing fish feed to delivering premium portioned fish fillets. Salmon is processed at a factory in Rinmore, County Donegal from where it is distributed chilled or frozen in trucks to customers in Ireland, Europe and North America. The firm aims for best practice and must adhere to category guidelines at every stage of farming and production, and so it decided to take a digital approach to synchronise its

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global operations.

Infor CloudSuite Food & Beverage is being rolled out through the Irish operation and globally to facilitate a common enterprise and resource planning platform and standardised production and logistics processes.

Consistent reporting and easier visibility of the supply chain are expected to drive improved productivity.

Some of its businesses already used Infor M3, and Marine Harvest was keen to deploy the application globally via a cloud model in order to reduce complexity and establish a single platform to support future growth. As a result of standardised and improved processes, the company anticipates a reduced number of transactions and better global traceability.

“As we continue to see substantial growth in our business, it is paramount that we have a solid and stable foundation from which to pursue new opportunities and embrace digitalisation,” commented Jørn I. Berg, Marine Harvest Group IT Applications Manager.

“Marine Harvest IT has adopted a ‘Cloud First’ strategy

for all business support applications and infrastructure support products.

Moving Infor M3 to the cloud is part of the overarching digital vision of Marine Harvest, with many digital initiatives generating business value in measurable ways.

“Several business-critical systems have already moved to the cloud and delivered impressive results, in terms of cost, licensing, labour, flexibility, and security. More importantly, when the information silos were removed, we were able to streamline and co-ordinate global operations and improve overall productivity and collaboration across our business,” added Jørn.

“Salmon farming faces huge levels of complexity, with incessant global demand, fluctuating process and environmental factors threatening supply,” commented Mike Edgett, Director of Industry Marketing, Process Manufacturing, Infor. “Establishing the right platform which can flex, scale and ensure ultimate visibility across the entire organisation to make decisions and protect margins, is imperative as we enter a new era of digitalisation.

As the largest salmon producer in the world Marine Harvest is leading the change in this respect and with CloudSuite Food & Beverage at the helm, will be well placed to embrace the innovation necessary to ensure that its growth continues in the coming years.”

Winter 2018

case study II

Tesco Ireland streamlines recycling

Tesco Ireland took on DS Smith Recycling to recover expanded polystyrene (EPS) from its general waste stream, with the aim to reduce non-recyclable materials in its supply chain, resulting in reduced general waste bin lifts by 35 percent.

Tesco Ireland uses EPS boxes to transport fresh seafood products on ice to its fish counters in stores across the country. When expanded, polystyrene contains 98 percent air, making these boxes lightweight and insulating, perfect for the task. The material is also recyclable, being milled into pellets used to manufacture new products.

However, the material becomes a logistical challenge to store and transport to the recycling plant after it has been used.

In terms of waste management and recycling EPS is expensive and bulky to move, with relatively little usable material at the end of processing.

Because of this there has been little investment in compactor machinery and recycling systems for EPS in general, which has led to a lack of recycling infrastructure on a national scale. This makes it a challenge to recycle expanded polystyrene.

The high volume and low weight ratio of EPS means that though DS Smith collected 93,500 cubic litres of EPS every week from Tesco’s Irish Network, this totalled only 10 tonnes of usable recycled material a year. Solving the challenge in the weight-volume ratio of EPS was the key focus of the project, as the EPS fish boxes were a significant contributor to the weekly bin lifts of general waste from Tesco Ireland’s stores.

Combining compaction with transport was the key. DS Smith and Tesco started working with a local partner, Waste Matters, which supplied EPS compactor machines transported inside articulated lorries, processing the polystyrene at the point of collection before moving on to the next load.

The shift to this new method of working was fast with little invasive impact on Tesco’s existing Irish operations. One general waste bin was removed from each site and the existing cages were used to store the EPS boxes. A project team trained all affected staff in ensuring that the boxes are cleaned and rinsed with water before storage for collection. This reduces any contamination from trans-

porting fish, improving the quality of material sent for recycling.

The partnership has removed 4.86 million cubic litres of polystyrene from Tesco Ireland’s general waste bins, and has ensured the successful recycling of a hard-to-recycle specialist material. The compacted polystyrene is transported to County Laois, from where it is sold as a commodity to companies which recycle it into insulation boards, garden furniture, and coat hangers. No polystyrene is sent to landfill.

There has also been a significant cost benefit from the reduction in general waste bins. The reduction in EPS volume means that the project has removed 35 percent of general waste bin lifts a year from Tesco’s Irish stores equating to a significant cost saving.

As well as improving Tesco Ireland’s sustainability and ensuring that a hard to recycle stream is actually recycled, the project has generated employment in the local community by supporting more Waste Matters drivers on the road.

Text: Johanna Parsons

LEADERS IN CUSTOMISED HANDLING SOLUTIONS +353 47 80500

combilift.com

www.handling-network.com

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Winter 2018

warehousing

Virginia International Logistics builds on success with new Kells site

Virginia International Logistics has been busy. Since winning the coveted Fleet Transport Irish Haulier of the Year Award for 2018, the Cavan based family business has been building on its success and developing its logistics offerings, starting by constructing and opening a new 50,000 sq.ft. logistics centre in Kells, County Meath.

The business already had bases in Ballycoolin, County Dublin, and Tamworth, UK as well as its headquarters in Maghera, Virginia, County Cavan where it was founded. In the 1960s, husband and wife team Johnny and Bridie Cole set up Ramor Transport, collecting milk in a Ford truck for Bailieborough Co-op and Virginia Milk products. In 1982 Virginia International was founded and today Johnny’s four sons Sean, James, Eamon and Ray are directors of the firm.

Virginia International now has a fleet of over 100 tractor-units consisting of Scania, Renault, DAF and Volvo trucks ranging from Euro 4 to Euro 6, all on a 3 to 5 year replacement programme. It has some 300 trailers including refrigerated units, curtain-

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siders and Euroliners.

To its customer base of more than 800 companies, it offers groupage, part and full load services, temperature controlled, dry freight, and containerised transport to the UK and Europe, and its global reach is expanding. The new facility now allows it to offer a wider range of services including a growing range of warehouse based logistics services.

Much of this growing international trade will be housed and processed in the new Kells logistics centre which opened its doors to clients in June. It has a 50,000sq. ft. footprint with potential for 10,600 pallet spaces.

Currently half the facility is racked out, with seven or eight levels of pallet storage beneath its 11m eave height. These are accessed by Hyster electric counterbalance trucks including several 2.5 tonne models, one 4 tonner, and two Hyster VNA (very narrow aisle) man-up trucks which have a 12m lift height and can lift a tonne weight to any position in the warehouse.

This investment in storage density and materials handling equipment to service it efficiently reflects the growing needs of customers.

E-commerce is changing the way goods are moved. For example, Virginia’s original 14,000sq.ft. warehouse is now given over in its entirety

to a courier business which uses it to split pallets, pick pack and deliver e-commerce orders.

The new facility at Kells is the brainchild of Logistics Director, Gerry Murphy, whose background in intermodal logistics has informed the plan to open up to worldwide business.

He sees it as a necessary part of Virginia’s development from a transport firm to becoming a full worldwide logistics services provider.

“It has opened up new lanes, new avenues,” explained Gerry. “It’s given better utilisation, so we can offer a

better package to clients both in the transport and storage solutions we can offer, but it’s also given us additional transport work as a result of the new business that’s coming in there [to the Kells site]. Some of the stuff that’s coming straight in from the Far East, we’re taking it in, it’s in bulk, we break it down, palletise it, and re-distribute it around the country as well.”

And it’s not just new clients that are taking advantage of this widened service offering, according to Gerry.

“We’ve gained more transport as a result, but at the same time we’ve taken a lot of our existing clients that we were doing transport services for and we’ve increased and expanded the services that we offer them. We can now offer cross docking, distribution,

cross shipping, breaking bulk, and we are storing things for one or two clients that we were doing transport for previously,” he added.

That flexibility is already paying off.

Gerry gives the example of one of the clients that first moved into the Kells site, a chocolate manufacturer that originally availed of the storage for its packaging materials, but subsequently decided to move its finished goods to the site too. Gerry says that as clients demand more they will invest in further kits such as picking systems, IT and potentially automation.

The electronic data interchange that forms the digital backbone to the facility is supplied by Stratum which also provides the firm’s Blue Tree transport management IT. This means all the systems can talk to each other and allows visibility across the operation. But Gerry stated that Irish firm Stratum write the software as they go along. “We’re developing it as each of the customers’ requirements come up,” He said. “For anything specific

or out of the ordinary we have the capability to adapt and incorporate them as well.”

The firm is also prepared to expand its fleet, particularly into environmentally friendly vehicles. “The intention now is to get more natural gas powered trucks. We have a CNG fuelling station in our depot in Ballycoolin, and we’ll be expanding that putting another fuelling station either in Virginia or in Kells.”

Two fuelling stations is ambitious, but Gerry believes that the days of diesel will be over in the next twenty years. The company has already 4 trucks powered by this alternative fuel source with another 10 or 12 units coming in the next 6 to 12 months, with plans to expand this fleet at a more rapid rate thereafter.

The firm’s expansion plans don’t end there as the Kells facility is merely the first of three new sites, with the next potential development set to give an additional 60,000sq.ft., and a further potential 70,000sq.ft. phase planned for when the time is right.

And that time will depend on how fast customers come on board. In terms of what type of customers they are looking for he says “We’re looking at all sectors. Phase II can be completely independent to phase I if necessary.

It could be pharmaceutical, FMCG, industrial, packaging, nothing is set in concrete at the minute.”

If the shape of things to come is not yet set in concrete, it certainly seems that with a VNA distribution centre and multiple new sites in the works, firm foundations have been laid for exciting future growth for Virginia International Logistics and probably more awards to come to boot!

Text: Johanna Parsons

+353 47 80500

combilift.com www.handling-network.com

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Winter 2018

advice

Are you ready for Euro-Stage V?

Emission standards for diesel forklift trucks are about to get a lot stricter and, for the first time, LPG trucks are affected too.

What are the implications for buyers planning their future strategic fleet purchases?

By Paul Watson, Commercial Director at Doosan Industrial Vehicles UK Ltd. As of 1 January 2019 new diesel and LPG powered forklift trucks sold in the European Union will start to have to comply with the world’s toughest emission standards for non-road vehicles, Euro-Stage V. So what will this mean for those planning their forklift truck fleets? Should buyers be reconsidering their fuel or power options? Possibly, but there are a number of important considerations to take into account.

The headline news is that limits on emissions of particulate matter are to be reduced by a further 40% under the new regulations – taking the current Stage IV A limit of 0.025 g/kWh of soot down to 0.015g/kWh – and this will apply across all engine sizes. Carbon Monoxide emissions will be set at 5.0 g/kWh for all engines up to 128kW and emissions for NOx and HC will remain as currently specified.

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The good news is, the Euro-Stage V standards are much clearer and simpler than the existing tiered arrangement for emission limits which are presently staggered across a range of engine power outputs: Stage lll A - less than 37kW, Stage lll B - 37kW to 81kW and Stage IV A - larger than 81kw.

However, for buyers of forklift trucks, life is about to become more complex.

Under Euro-Stage V standards all IC engine forklift trucks, both diesel and LPG powered vehicles, will have to comply regardless of engine size – and that means even trucks below the current minimum threshold of 37kW. For LPG trucks, emissions of particulate matter will not be a problem, but to eliminate nitrous oxides a three-way catalytic converter will be necessary. The good thing is catalytic converters are relatively inexpensive, require minimal maintenance and do not have to go through the lengthy regeneration processes associated with diesel particulate filters (DPFs).

The biggest impact of these new standards will fall on the diesel engine models. Most diesel forklift trucks supplied to the market presently require DPFs to comply with the current standards. With the introduction of more stringent Euro-Stage V regulations significantly more advanced DPF cleaning systems and operating regimes will be required by most manufacturers to comply, and for less sophisticated diesel engines this will mean longer periods of downtime and more expense.

As the vast majority of forklift makers do not build their own engines, the solution adopted by the industry has been, in general, to adapt ill-suited automotive engines and reduce the amount of NOx by lowering the combustion temperature using cooled exhaust gas to dilute the amount of oxygen in the combustion chamber.

But, there is a big penalty. Soot is increased which requires the engine to have a diesel particulate filter fitted to prevent the soot being emitted.

As those having purchased a new forklift fitted with a diesel particulate filter will know, it has to be recharged at regular intervals. This is a lengthy process that for most users must be performed once or twice a week and requires the truck to be taken out of service and the engine to be revved at full engine RPM for about 20 minutes to half an hour, in order to burn the soot that has collected in the particulate filter. Large amounts of fuel are used in the process and the truck is not available for duty – increasing downtime and significantly impacting productivity. Then there are the costs associated with the burning of extra fuel and associated maintenance issues, not to mention the sheer inconvenience of the whole lengthy, repetitive process.

However, at present, not all diesel engines need DPF filters to comply with the current regulations. There are only a small number of forklift truck manufacturers who have diesel engines on the market that do not require diesel particulate filters to comply with the existing Euro-Stage lllB and Stage lV standards. Only a couple of them, can offer solutions across the whole range.

Doosan has a full range from 2.0-tonne capacity across all diesel powered counterbalance trucks up to 25-tonnes.

Of course, with the new, stricter Euro-Stage V regulations coming into force even these manufacturers will need to further reduce emissions, and this will almost certainly require the fitting of DPFs. Clearly, tightening EU regulations on carbon, nitrogen oxide and particle emissions offer strong indications as to the direction policy makers wish to take. So, as with cars and vans, is the future electric?

Electric trucks have a lot to offer.

However, there are plenty of applications where diesel or LPG trucks offer the best solution and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

As you might expect, much depends on the particular demands of the job, the application and the working environment.

Winter 2018

product

A-SAFE is covering critical corners

Pallet trucks are not the most manoeuvrable of vehicles; in today’s high-speed world, it is unsurprising therefore that 90° corners are hotspots for scuffs and bumps.

Resulting chips and scrapes need continuous management and repair to retain complete structural integrity.

With a family of wall protection solutions on offer, the addition of the FlexiShield Corner Guard to protect these vulnerable corners has further enhanced the A-SAFE product range.

Award-winning A-SAFE is the inventor and manufacturer of the world’s first industrial strength polymer safety barrier system, used in warehouses, factories, airports, car parks and other industrial

workplaces worldwide. Made from a trademarked advanced polymer called MemaplexTM, A-SAFE barriers flex, absorb impact forces from heavy vehicles, then reform to their original shape.

“The new Corner Guard works on two fronts – it’s highly visible which makes it easier to avoid potential impacts, then even if an impact does occur the FlexiShield features will absorb the impact and lessen damage both to the structure it’s protecting as well as the truck or trolley that made the impact and its load,” reported A-SAFE’s Head of Engineering.

By keeping the footprint of this product as narrow as possible, A-SAFE have produced a solution to absorb

impact without encroaching into designated traffic routes. Its stackable configuration means customers can mount them one on top of the other – floor to ceiling if required: “We have seen instances recently with laden roll containers causing damage higher up warehouse walls, therefore it was important that our solution could meet impact damage further up the structure,” added A-SAFE’s Product Manager.

The chevron design has been specifically developed to enhance the impact absorption of the product. The Corner Guard’s chevrons increase surface area which then enables it to spread the load of the impact further; lessening its effect on the structure it is protecting.

The new product seamlessly integrates into the A-SAFE range of wall and corner protection; enabling customers to further safeguard their infrastructure and assets from unnecessary harm and damage.

A-SAFE’s RackGuard product won the prestigious iF Award for product innovation in 2015, and its iFlex barrier range won the iF Award in the Industry/ Skilled Trades category in 2016.

JCB Teletruk – making the most…

With its unique telescopic reach, JCB’s Teletruk has been designed to enable users to maximise their outside storage space. The Teletruk has the ability to access curtainsided trailers from only one side. This functionality means the amount of floorspace required to load and unload pallets to and from incoming or outgoing vehicles can be slashed by 30% - which, typically, will free up some 32 square metres of yard space per vehicle.

Using Teletruk technology to pick or pack pallets from one side only means that a curtainsider requires just six metres of space within which to be loaded or unloaded. So, trailers can be parked tight to a wall - leaving valuable

space free in the central yard area for additional storage, extra delivery vehicles or, indeed, tasks such as cross-docking .

With an average trailer measuring up to 3 metres wide, unloading or loading with two standard 2.5 tonne counterbalanced forklift trucks required all of the available yard space to enable the lift trucks to manoeuvre safely around the vehicle to load or retrieve or pallets.

However, the introduction of a single Teletruk has allowed the company to reconfigure its goods in and out processes in a far more space efficient way.

Trailers now park up to be processed against a side wall in an area of the yard that would previously have been too narrow for two counterbalanced machines to operate in. On average, the Teletruk loads or unloads each delivery in around 30 minutes, and at all sites, loading and unloading a trailer from just one side delivers significant safety and throughput efficiency benefits.

Text: Rob Van Dieten

www.handling-network.com

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Winter 2018

logistics

SEAT & Grupo Sesé are again at the forefront of road transport

This tractor-unit and trailer combination measures over 30 metres long and reduces CO2 emissions by 20% per road journey.

Both collaborating companies SEAT and Grupo Sesé carried out a pilot test to analyse the performance of the eco-combi trailer, the largest and most efficient freight delivery system now driving on motorways in certain European countries. The test journey was made from Zaragoza to the SEAT headquarters in Martorell and to be repeated in upcoming months while transporting components.

The twin-trailer system features two 13.60 metre long trailers pulled by a Scania tractor-unit, with a total length of 31.70 metres and a maximum payload capacity of 70 tonnes GVW. In total, it enables a reduction in CO2 emissions of 20% per road journey and a 25% decrease in the logistics costs of transporting components, figures that these tests intend to verify. Designed for travelling on high capacity roads, the duo trailer will also lower the number of trucks that travel on conventional roads, which is where the highest number of road accidents take place.

SEAT Vice-President for Production and Logistics, Dr. Christian Vollmer pointed out that, “the duo trailer has the capacity to reduce by

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50% the number of trucks on the road, and this implies huge benefits in terms of sustainability, environmental responsibility, safety and efficiency. Innovation is at the core of SEAT and these tests are in the same spirit that led us to bring the mega truck to Spain two years ago in partnership with Grupo Sesé.”

For the time being, this research study will conclude with a report to demonstrate the performance and benefits of this new vehicle in regards to emissions reduction, efficiency and road safety so that in the near future its use can be standardised in Spain.

In relation to these benefits, Grupo Sesé Managing Director, Ángel Pueyo underlined that, “the added advantage of this means of transport to reducing

road accidents and emissions and cost savings is its versatility and the way it promotes multimodality and improves efficiency and sustainability.”

SEAT and Grupo Sesé made a firm commitment to sustainable mobility for road transport two years ago when they introduced the mega truck in Spain, a truck measuring more than 25 metres long that until now was the longest, most sustainable vehicle driving on Spanish roads.

The arrival of the duo-trailer, as it’s called, is going to lower CO2 emissions even more, up from 14% to 20% in comparison to a conventional truck. The main reason behind this is the improved fuel consumption efficiency per tonne transported, as it has 6 metres and 10 tonnes more load capacity when comparing both vehicles. In addition, the duo trailer is more efficient in terms of multimodality with rail transport, as train wagon infrastructure is designed to make maximum use of 13.60 metre long trailers, such as those featured on the duo trailer. For this reason it could promote transport by train to the rest of Europe.

Text Jarlath Sweeney

Winter 2018

plant

UK plant hire market forecast to grow by 11% between 2018 and 2022 An AMA Research Ltd/ Trade Estimates survey has revealed that the UK plant hire market was estimated to be worth £3bn in 2017, with growth of around 1% forecast for 2018. The plant hire market is extremely diverse, with equipment ranging from dehumidifiers to excavators, and demand for each type of equipment varies, reflecting a combination of factors including the level of new work and residential, maintenance and improvement (RMI) in sectors such as highways and distribution/ warehousing. Demand in sectors such as pumping and climate control is also impacted by the prevalent weather conditions.

The market experienced modest growth up to 2013 but increased significantly in 2014 due to improvements in both housing and non-residential building markets, as well as manufacturing and other non-construction end-use sectors. Since then, the plant hire market has remained positive, though growth has been at a lower level. Infrastructure remains the key end-use sector, although different parts of the infrastructure sector have performed differently in recent years.

Plant hire is a highly competitive market and as such hire rates have been affected, remaining relatively static in recent years.

Earth-moving equipment and lifting equipment together are estimated to account for over two thirds of the plant hire market by value. The earth moving equipment hire market is traditionally cyclical, with demand influenced by levels of the non-residential construction, housebuilding, construction associated industries such as quarrying, and some non-construction activities including waste management. Earth moving equipment is one of the first sectors to benefit from construction project starts, and prospects for the

sector are positive with growth forecast to 2022. Hire demand in the lifting sector has also remained relatively strong.

“The performance of the plant hire market is highly dependent on the performance of the overall construction market,” explained Jane Tarver, AMA Research. “Individual hire company’s experiences tend to vary in terms of product sectors and regional & geographical trends, with companies in the South East, for example, seeing higher demand from the housebuilding sector than those in the North of England, Scotland, etc.”

Prospects for this sector remain positive, although in common with many sectors of the hire market, there are likely to be regional variations in performance. Overall, the market is forecast to experience modest growth in 2018, benefiting from the HS2 project which is due to be started in the Autumn. From 2018 onwards, construction sub-sectors forecast to increase output and provide opportunities for growth including infrastructure, entertainment & leisure, industrial and health as well as housebuilding.

Text: Jarlath Sweeney www.handling-network.com

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Winter 2018

supply chain

Shippers focus on Supply Chain sharpens as Brexit nears

(l-r) Declan Sinnott - Rhenus Logistics, Simon Barry. - Ulster Bank, Simon McKeever -, IEA, Carol-Ann O’Keeffe - Revenue , Jane Dempsey-Dept. of Agriculture, pictured at the IEA event in Cork

As the countdown to the 29 March 2019 Brexit day accelerates, the Irish Exporters Association (IEA) is in consultation with its membership both directly and also through hosting a series of regional group meetings and meeting as well as the now well-established IEA Supply Chain Event series, ramping up its training and knowledge dissemination activities.

The current IEA training programme includes short courses on Warehouse Strategy & Design, Customs Awareness, Incoterms 2010 and the Good Distribution Practice certification programme focussed on the Life Sciences area. An AEO, (Authorised Economic Operator), course has been developed that is specifically designed for companies who want to identify themselves as a “Trusted trader” and, in so doing, minimise the slowdown to their supply chain that could arise from Customs checks.

Speaking to a recent meeting, Paul Hearty of Revenue said that, at present there are 147 AEO certified companies in Ireland with a further twenty applications being processed. Though these Irish numbers are low compared to other countries, the volume of Customs declarations for import where AEO’s are involved reached 74% in Ireland in 2017, matching the EU average. This indicates that the economic operators with higher volumes of trade do avail of the AEO programme. There is a set of simplified procedures that are available to firms within lower trading volumes and, while on Continental Europe

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almost all firms avail of these, the Irish volume remains low. On exports and the related documentation, the Irish figures are lower than the EU average, indicating that many companies export only within the current EU. Speaking at the very well attended Supply Chain series event held in Cork on 28 September, Carol-Ann O’Keeffe, Assistant Principal Officer at Revenue’s Customs Policy Branch sought to underline the importance of traders achieving, if not the whole AEO, then the “Trusted Trader” accreditation. Revenue has set up facilities that will help firms that may not have had significant interaction with them up to now, to understand what is required to make their trading transactions as simple as possible. At the same event Jane Dempsey, Assistant Principal at the Brexit Unit at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine repeated the message delivered at previous events in this series that companies exporting and importing products that have some food or animal content do have a very specific set of issues when seeking to ensure the seamless flow of their goods through Ports and other Border Control facilities. She again emphasised how careful traders and their carriers must be with the packaging of their goods and in the use of pallets that are in perfect condition and bear the certification stamp that they have been heat-treated.

The Cork event, like others in the series, has been sponsored by Rhenus Logistics, Ulster Bank and Iarnrod

Éireann, with Fleet Transport/Handling Network supporting the series as media partner.

In his presentation Declan Sinnott, Managing Director of Rhenus Logistics Ireland sought to reassure the attendance that, for exports to Continental Europe from the Munster region, there are valid alternatives to shipment using the British landbridge. He demonstrated that in many instances use of container Lo-Lo services operating out of Cork, Waterford or Dublin ports can deliver products to the final consignee as quickly and much more economically than using landbridge. Captain Paul O’Regan, Chief Operations Officer at the Port of Cork also spoke about some options to landbridge mentioning the establishment in Spring 2018 of the twice weekly ferry service linking the Port of Cork with Santander in Spain and the weekly Grimaldi Line service linking Cork with Emden in Germany and Antwerp with the vessel sailing on to a number of Mediterranean Ports.

He confirmed that the major Port development at Ringaskiddy is now underway with plans well advanced for enhanced road connectivity with the new port and industrial location.

The event was organised in conjunction with the Cork Chamber of Commerce. Katherine Fitzpatrick, International Services Manager at the Chamber spoke not just about the further development potential for business in the Cork region, but also of the enhanced services that the Chamber can give members in the run-up to Brexit.

The final IEA Supply Chain Seminar for 2018 is planned to take place in Dublin on 7 December, hosted by Ulster Bank, and the final Exporters’ Roundtable will be hosted by Iarnrod Éireann at Rosslare Europort on 8 November next.

Text: Howard Knott

Unit 20 Parkmore Industrial Estate Long Mile Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 00 353 1 4034555 Email: sales@renaulttrucks.ie Website: www.setantatrucks.ie

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