Logistics News ME

REPORT

TRUCKS

OP-ED

Checkout.com releases payments report

Delivery and dispatch of the COVID19vaccines in Mercedes-Benz Trucks

Welcome to the eCommerce boom

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LOGISTICS & 2021 TRANSPORT AWARDS

Industry leaders and experts from the logistics, supply chain and transport sectors celebrate their achievements at the Leaders & Transport Awards

OCTOBER 2021

A MEMBERS OF EMIRATES TRANSPORT BUSINESS CENTERS:

IN THIS ISSUE

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18 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Industry leaders and experts from the logistics, supply chain and transport sectors came together on September 28, 2021, at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk to celebrate their achievements at the leaders in Hospitality Awards 2021. Here, are the winners and the best moments from the night.

34 14 TRUCKS DELIVERING HOPE MICCO Logistics, the logistics arm of Abu Dhabi Ports, has been instrumental in the delivery and dispatch of the COVID-19 vaccines from the hub facility to the airport in its Mercedes-Benz Trucks 34 OP-ED

WELCOME TO THE ECOMMERCE BOOM Rita Huang, CEO of iMile writes how the rapid rise of eCommerce has been shaping transformations across the regional logistics industry

36 REPORT

CHECKOUT.COM RELEASES PAYMENTS REPORT Payment solutions provider Checkout.com launched its annual MENA and Pakistan (MENAP) Payments’ report, as consumer demand for digital commerce continues to surge

38 SUSTAINABILITY

CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Mammoet’s Head of Sustainability, Erica Gray, discusses engineered heavy lifting’s role as an enabler of the transition to a low carbon future

40 COLD CHAIN

THERMO KING to deliver all-electric, zeroemission solutions for cold chain by 2023

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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fter months of preparations and receiving over hundred nominations, we hosted our annual Logistics & Transport Awards 2021 with much fanfare.

Industry experts and members of the supply chain, logistics and transport sector attended the event in what was a full house.

One thing I learned from this event was how resilient the industry has been in the past 18 months. While there have been challenges and hurdles along the way, the logistics sector has proved that it can not just rise above the storm but find a silver lining too.

The next six months is going to be crucial for the industry as Expo 2020 Dubai is expected to boost the economy and in turn the logistics industry. Big players have already announced investments to boost the sector’s growth.

Maersk’ local subsidiary, Maersk Kanoo UAE, recently signed an agreement with DP World’s trade and logistics hub, Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) to set up its first Warehousing & Distribution (W&D) facility in the UAE. With its new W&D facility, the container logistics firm is taking an important step towards building an integrated solution for its customers wherein the customers will get a single window access to multiple logistics requirements, not only for the goods flowing in and out of UAE, but also to other Middle Eastern countries who use Dubai as a gateway to global trade.

Saudi Arabia too is poised to become a major logistics hub. FedEx Express announced its transition to a direct-serve presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to meet the country’s growing international shipping demands. It will invest more than SAR1.5 billion in the country.

This investment will contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals and the National Industrial Development and Logistics Programme. It will also support the trade requirements of the healthcare, eCommerce, technology, energy, aerospace, automotive, and petrochemical sectors in the country.

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REGIONAL NEWS

KING SALMAN ENERGY PARK FORMS JV WITH HUTCHISON PORTS TO OPERATE PORT AND LOGISTICS ZONE

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ing Salman Energy Park (SPARK) and Hutchison Ports announced the signing of a shareholders’ agreement for the formation of a joint venture to manage and operate the dry port and bonded logistics zone in the SPARK energy industrial city.

Designed to ensure ease of access to global markets, the 3-sqkm dry port will enable the future joint venture to capture the growing demand for logistics services for energy-related products in the Middle East and beyond while also serving the neighboring industrial cities.

SPARK is a sustainable, global energy hub in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The mega project, which spans over 50 square kilometres, is a manufacturing, service center and logistics hub for the energy sectors and is an integral part of the Saudi Vision 2030.

SPARK will create significant employment, further diversify the economy, and attract additional foreign investment into the Kingdom.

Mohammed Y. Al-Qahtani, Chairman of SPARK, summarised the significance of the agreement: “We are so proud to give investors another reason to do business at SPARK. Hutchison Ports is a world class ports and terminal operator, and the step we take together today will give SPARK’s investors ease of access to local and global markets.

“Furthermore, the logistic hubs will also serve the eastern region and its industrial cities. It will also help us fulfil

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our IKTVA promise to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world by giving local manufacturers the physical infrastructure they need.”

Group Managing Director of Hutchison Ports, Mr. Eric Ip, added: “Saudi Arabia is an important market, and we are very excited to participate in this ambitious, gamechanging mega project. As the world’s leading port group, we will leverage our logistics expertise to create value and competitiveness for the tenants of SPARK.” Commenting at the ceremony, Saif Al Qahtani, SPARK President and CEO said: “Our partnership with Hutchison Ports marks an important milestone in the ongoing development of SPARK. The dry port and logistics zone will be the key to unlocking the potential of our strategic location in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, a region which is known for its unmatched oil and gas resources.

We are tremendously excited to work with Hutchison Ports to help connect our investors to the world, allowing them to operate efficiently and save on transport times and costs.”

SPARK’s first phase is divided into several clusters: logistics zone, industrial hub, business district, digital hub, and residential and commercial areas. The dedicated threesquare-kilometre dry port and logistics zone will include warehouses and storage facilities, a bonded area and onsite customs clearance.

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REGIONAL NEWS

ROYALJET ADDS OPERATIONAL BASE AT DWC AIRPORT TO SUPPORT EXPO 2020

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bu Dhabi-owned premium private aviation firm RoyalJet has expanded its presence in the UAE, adding Dubai as a new operating base.

In addition to its existing operational bases at Abu Dhabi International Airport and Al Bateen International Airport (Abu Dhabi’s city airport), RoyalJet is now basing aircraft from its fleet at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Dubai.

These aircraft, including Boeing Business Jet VVIP Airliners and Bombardier Global 5000 corporate jets, are available for charter by business and leisure travellers directly into and out of Dubai.

This move comes because of the growing demand for private jet travel in the emirate and the imminent opening of Expo 2020.

Rob DiCastri, CEO, RoyalJet said: “Despite this challenging ongoing pandemic, Dubai has found a way to grow private jet traffic into and out of this beautiful city, flying in the face of the trend which has been seen outside only the US and maybe Europe. As one of the leading global destinations for tourism and business Dubai continues to thrive and welcome guests from numerous countries.”

With Expo 2020 about to commence, traffic to and from Dubai and the UAE will surely skyrocket and de-

mand for capacity in all areas of aviation will increase even further, including in the VVIP sector.

As a UAE company, RoyalJet is taking this unprecedented step in order to support this incredible event and provide exceptional options to allow VVIP guests and larger groups to attend.

RoyalJet operates the world’s largest fleet of Boeing Business Jets, with seating configurations ranging from a 19 seat VVIP layout with master suite and shower, to a 52-seat corporate shuttle, to various options in between.

The company is accustomed to flying heads of state, ambassadors, ministers, royal family members and other ultra-high net worth individuals in these aircrafs, but also large government delegations, sports teams, and large family groups. For smaller groups the company also operates two Bombardier Global 5000 aircrafts which seat up to 12.

“If ever there was a right time for RoyalJet to bring its industry leading aircraft and services to Dubai it is now,” added DiCastri.

“We are ready to support the efforts made by our government to make this event a major success, bringing our expertise and our capacity to Al Maktoum International Airport which is so perfectly located near the Expo 2020 grounds.”

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REGIONAL NEWS

SAL AND GULF AIR SIGN MULTI-YEAR CARGO LOGISTICS PARTNERSHIP

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AL, Saudi Logistics Services, company, signed an agreement with Gulf Air –Bahrain’s national carrier – to provide ground handling solutions to their fleet at all Saudi main airports.

The Saudi company said that this seven-year agreement is another step towards enhancing the expansion plans and strategic relations with diverse airlines with high cargo operational capacity.

SAL’s CEO Hesham Alhussayen noted that the agreement represents years of cooperation in both passenger and cargo flights with Gulf Air, and that the Bahraini leading airline will benefit from SAL’s wide range of logistics services and offerings.

He highlighted the pivotal role SAL plays in facilitating cargo movement at all main airports where the company utilises its full logistic capacity to effectively serve airlines through its full-fledged modern facilities ac-

10 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

cording to high international standards.

Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi welcomed the partnership and noted that such agreements will strengthen its presence and expansion into important markets such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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REGIONAL NEWS

GRUBTECH TO DEBUT 3D PRINTED SMART LOCKER SYSTEM FOR FOOD DELIVERY AT EXPO 2020 WITH TALABAT

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rubTech, an all-in-one platform for restaurants and cloud kitchens launched the first 3D printed smart locker system in a partnership with Talabat, the region’s online food and qCommerce (Quick Commerce) delivery platform.

The Smart 3D Locker system provides Talabat’s customers with a contactless pick-up option across Expo 2020 pavilions. Customers will be able to place their order on Talabat’s application and be notified when their order is ready for pickup from the assigned locker. Once at the locker, the customer will scan their unique in-app QR code for the locker to automatically unlock.

GrubTech’s smart locker system is manufactured by the UAE-based 3D printing bureau, Immensa Technology Labs and leverages advanced technologies to provide a robust, flexible, and secure solution to give customers the confidence that every order and package is delivered safely and securely.

“The development of this system showcases the true ingenuity and innovation

of GCC companies. The Smart 3D Locker System is a result of the progressive thinking of Talabat, in combination with GrubTech’s cutting edge technology and the advanced digital engineering of Immensa. We are seeing much more innovation coming from the region,” said Fahmi AlShawwa, CEO Immensa.

All lockers are installed with a printed proprietary circuit board, a technology designed and developed by GrubTech that mechanically supports and electrically connects with any device, allowing organisations to control and monitor all lockers remotely. This technology will provide Talabat with full visibility on the end-toend order journey, as well as a new level of control over operations.

Smart lockers will be positioned strategically at the Talabat pavilion at Expo for a convenient order pick-up experience.

Mohamed Hamedi, Chief Technology Officer at GrubTech, commented, “We are humbled to be participants in Expo 2020 and to showcase the latest innovation of contactless pick-up alongside our partners in Talabat. GrubTech has always

been proud to be local and privileged to be a global player in the F&B space.”

“One of the key challenges faced by restaurant operators is the labour-intensive pickup process for any off-premise orders. The integrated technology enables organisations to follow the process and optimize costs via digital access management, live monitoring, and data analysis. GrubTech’s smart locker system can help restaurant operators or retailers streamline the pickup of all orders received. Operators can also improve and refine internal processes and systems by analysing the data collected from the smart locker system, ” added Hamedi.

The smart locker system helps restaurants and businesses focus on customer satisfaction, address operational challenges, and help them improve their operations with increased driver utilisation, mitigate labour and cost challenges, and improve the bottom line.

The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation and accentuated the reliance on online contactless deliveries.

According to recent research findings by Redseer, qCommerce, defined by very fast delivery from groceries, restaurants, and dark stores, is currently driven by food delivery which is contributing 85% to the total qCommerce sales.

The study also revealed that qCommerce today is taking up 20% of the region’s digital economy and is expected to contribute $20 billion in gross merchandise value by 2024.

Commenting on this partnership, Jeremy Doutte, Vice President UAE at Talabat said: “As Talabat continues to grow, innovation and technology remain key areas we are constantly striving to improve across all our business operations. Expo 2020 opened a world of opportunities, enabling us to explore new ways to deliver food to millions of expected visitors as the Official Food Delivery Provider.

He added: “By working closely with tech partners such as GrubTech, we are able to introduce different modes of delivery while having full control and visibility on the end-to-end order journey. Customers will be able to pick up their orders from smart lockers at Expo for the first time, a solution that could potentially be implemented even outside of Expo in the future.”

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REGIONAL NEWS

CEVA LOGISTICS OFFSETS ITS GLOBAL LCL OFFERING WITH PUR PROJET

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EVA Logistics is now offsetting 100% of its lessthan-container-load (LCL) logistics offering, reducing its customers’ carbon footprint at no additional cost to them.

The company is offsetting its ‘Share the Box’ LCL carbon footprint with PUR ProJet. Through the purchase of carbon credits, CEVA Logistics will contribute to the conservation of the Gola Rainforest National Park (GRNP) in southeast Sierra Leone.

As more companies look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, especially in their supply chain activities, CEVA Logistics is providing responsive logistics solutions with improved sustainability.

The value-added offsetting for LCL customers is provided at no additional cost.

CEVA handles approximately 500,000 m3 of LCL cargo each year.

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The CEVA Share the Box service for LCL shipments operates services on all continents, offering door-to-door solutions by connecting beyond container freight stations thanks to the company’s extensive ground transportation network.

The CEVA Logistics carbon offsetting programme in connection with PUR ProJet will support the Gola Rainforest National Park (GRNP) located in southeast Sierra Leone.

The Park is home to more than 1,000 plant and animal species, including 60 threatened species, of which eight are endangered and one is critically endangered.

The project aims to protect these species, preserve 68,515 hectares of tropical forest and support more than 100 impoverished communities in the GRNP area.

The GRNP project is the first REDD+ project in Sierra Leone and West Africa,

achieving the Double Gold certification from the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard for its exceptional contribution to Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity.

As part of the CMA CGM Group, a world leader in shipping and logistics, CEVA is strongly committed to the protection of the environment.

The Group is significantly investing in research and development to help the emergence of future energy sources and technologies to reduce the impact of transport and logistics on the planet.

The CMA CGM Group aims at becoming carbon-neutral by 2050.

In addition to the LCL offsetting effort, CEVA Logistics offers customers alternative fuel options, including biofuel, LNG and biomethane, for reducing the greenhouse gas emission of their ocean cargo. CEVA is also a member of the Clean Cargo Group, a business-tobusiness sustainability initiative aiming to reduce the environmental impact of the cargo shipping industry.

For air freight customers, CEVA offers various sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) solutions in connection with its air carrier partners. In April, CEVA became an inaugural member of the United Airlines Eco-Skies Alliance program to encourage and accelerate the use of SAF in air cargo transport. Internally, CEVA is also using alternative fuel and electric vehicles in its ground and corporate fleets.

CEVA also hosts a logistics ecocalculator on its website to estimate the logistics carbon footprint of a shipment via ocean, air, or ground. Estimating carbon footprint and planning accordingly are the first steps toward a more sustainable supply chain.

Says Mathieu Friedberg, CEO, CEVA Logistics: “By offsetting the CO2 emissions of our LCL cargo offering, CEVA Logistics is positively impacting the carbon footprint of our customers and our industry. CEVA is taking tangible action today, with an eye on the solutions of tomorrow. We will continue to partner closely with our customers to develop a more sustainable supply chain as part of our corporate commitment to act for the planet.”

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REGIONAL NEWS

ARAMEX KUWAIT EXPANDS ITS FACILITY IN AGILITY LOGISTICS PARK

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gility announced that Aramex has selected the Agility Logistics Park (ALP) in Sulaibiya as the location for its new 16,000 sqm e-fulfillment centre in Kuwait.

The opening of the new Aramex warehouse was attended by H.E. Dr. Matar Al-Neaydi, UAE Ambassador in Kuwait, Eng. Nader Sakeen, CEO of ALP Kuwait and GCC, Mr. Fadi Kikoloff, General Manager of Aramex Kuwait along with senior executives from both companies.

Aramex’s new facility will be housed in Agility’s recently completed multicustomer logistics warehouse, which was developed by ALP. The facility is the largest logistics warehouse in Kuwait and was built to meet customer requirements. The warehouse complex provides Aramex Kuwait with the necessary infrastructure and services needed to meet its customers’ needs across the country and the GCC. Fadi Kikoloff, General Manager of Aramex Kuwait, said: “We are pleased to expand our fulfilment infrastructure to deliver our customers in Kuwait and the wider region the speed and reliability they deserve. This new facility is an important investment that will help support the rapid growth of our logistics business.

The facility’s cutting-edge technology

strengthens our position by ensuring higher capacity, faster sortation process and reduced transit times. We believe this will allow us to fulfil growing customer demands for more reliable services.”

The new Aramex facility will help the company expand and grow its eCommerce fulfilment business, which involves movement of different types of consumer goods and products.

Using the latest equipment and technology, the logistics warehouse will operate the latest version of INFOR WMS 10.4, RFID tags and gateways, automated conveyor belts and sorting machines, all of which are geared towards faster and more efficient operations.

Nader Sakeen, CEO of ALP Kuwait and GCC, said: “We are pleased to welcome Aramex Kuwait at their new facility at the Agility Logistics Park in Sulaibiya. The built-to-suit warehouse was tailored to customers’ requirements and is move-in ready, enabling fast deployment, flexibility, and reduced capital commitments.

At ALP, we know how to deliver largescale projects that accelerate growth and enhance operational efficiency for companies operating in Kuwait and in the region.”

The ALP in Sulaibiya features built-up, international-standard warehousing and

logistics facilities that serve leading multinationals, government customers, and small and medium-sized businesses operating in Kuwait.

In twelve countries, the advanced design and layout of ALP warehouses gives customers the ability to store more goods in less space while also utilizing state-of-theart technology and systems that ensure smooth management of inventory and flow of goods.

Sakeen said: “Agility Logistics Parks is a world leader in the design and construction of logistics parks and warehousing solutions. Our logistics warehouses provide the essential infrastructure required for both multinational companies and local businesses in the storage, distribution, packaging, processing, and light manufacturing sectors.”

The secure ALP in Sulaibiya features ready-built warehouses; built-to-suit warehouses; shared facilities; and open storage, laydown, and truck- and carstaging yards. The logistics park also offers ambient and air-conditioned warehousing; freezers and chillers; asphalted container-storage yards; and racked warehousing.

In addition, Agility’s warehouses meet international environmental standards and feature eco-friendly construction materials, using energy-efficient roof and side-insulated panels, wind-driven roof fans, skylights for natural lighting, along with LED and energy-saving light fittings.

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TRUCKS

DELIVERING HOPE

MICCO Logistics, the logistics arm of Abu Dhabi Ports, has been instrumental in the delivery and dispatch of the COVID-19 vaccines from the hub facility to the airport in its Mercedes-Benz Trucks 14 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

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DELIVERING HOPE | MICCO LOGISTICS, THE LOGISTICS ARM OF ABU DHABI PORTS

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ne of the greatest logistical challenges of modern times has come in during the pandemic with the transportation of vast amounts of COVID-19 vaccines. The pandemic brought our world to a complete standstill with the introduction of lockdowns, curfews, and travel restrictions.

The rapid development of vaccines has provided some much-needed hope.

Economies and businesses across the world have slowly got back to normal.

However, delivery of the vaccines has been a Herculean logistical task with countries scrambling to secure huge quotas of doses. Major challenges have arisen due to the sheer demand for vaccines and the need for robust supply chain solutions, all while maintaining integrity of the vaccine supply chain, and minimising vaccine wastage.

HOPE CONSORTIUM Anticipating the surge in vaccine logistics demand, Abu Dhabi launched the HOPE Consortium in November 2020, and cemented its position as the global logistics hub to facilitate COVID-19 vaccine distribution across the world.

Comprising of prominent Abu Dhabi and global entities, the Hope Consortium embodies an all-encompassing supply chain solution to address vaccine transport, demand planning, sourcing, training, digital technology infrastructure, and facilitate vaccine availability across the world.

“THE HOPE CONSORTIUM MANIFESTS ABU DHABI’S COMMITMENT TO THE GLOBAL BATTLE AGAINST THE PANDEMIC WITH THE GOAL OF SAFELY DISTRIBUTING MILLIONS OF VACCINES, FROM THE POINT OF PRODUCTION TO THE POINT OF VACCINATION.” The HOPE Consortium’s six founding partners include the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi Ports, Etihad Cargo, RAFED, Maqta Gateway, and SkyCell.

MICCO joins the founders as a key logistics partner. Together the consortium successfully solved major logistics challenges from procurement to delivery.

Specifically, it solved the issue of scale by establishing a brand agnostic vaccine supply chain that is capable of handling millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses annually, regardless of temperature restrictions. Looking ahead, the Consortium is expanding its capacity to significantly increase its handling volumes and geographical reach.

The partners solved the issue of vaccine wastage by employing a unique hub and spoke model, which allows the Consortium to store large quantities of vaccines at Abu Dhabi Ports’ advanced cold storage hub in Abu Dhabi and align its global deliveries with the ability of the countries and communities it serves to absorb them safely. >>>

ROBERT SUTTON, HEAD OF THE LOGISTICS CLUSTER ABU DHABI PORTS “THE HOPE CONSORTIUM MANIFESTS ABU DHABI’S COMMITMENT TO THE GLOBAL BATTLE AGAINST THE PANDEMIC WITH THE GOAL OF SAFELY DISTRIBUTING MILLIONS OF VACCINES, FROM THE POINT OF PRODUCTION TO THE POINT OF VACCINATION, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. COMBINING ABU DHABI’S STRATEGIC POSITION AS A GATEWAY TO TWO-THIRDS OF THE GLOBAL POPULATION WITH THE UNIQUE CAPABILITIES OF OUR WORLD-CLASS PARTNERS, WE HAVE DEVELOPED ONE OF THE MOST COMPLETE AND MOST EFFECTIVE END-TO-END VACCINE SUPPLY CHAINS IN THE WORLD CAPABLE OF FULFILLING OUR GLOBAL MISSION. “A KEY PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT HAS BEEN MICCO LOGISTICS, OUR LOGISTICS SUBSIDIARY, WHICH OPERATES A FLEET OF MERCEDES-BENZ TRUCKS THAT TRANSPORT COVID-19 VACCINES TO AND FROM OUR ADVANCED COLD AND ULTRA-COLD STORAGE HUB IN ABU DHABI. I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL OUR PARTNERS, WE HAVE HANDLED OVER 100 MILLION VACCINES ACROSS 40 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE MENA REGION, AFRICA, ASIA, EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, AND THE CIS, AND WE EXPECT THESE NUMBERS TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY AS MORE VACCINES ENTER THE MARKET IN THE COMING MONTHS.”

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TRUCKS

DELIVERY OF VACCINES Mercedes-Benz Trucks, in service with MICCO, have played a vital role in vaccine delivery to the consortium’s hub facility to Abu Dhabi airport, from where they are distributed all over the world.

Clifford D’souza, Executive Vice President & COO, MICCO Logistics, says: “As a member of the Abu Dhabi Ports family, MICCO is proud to support the HOPE Consortium as it helps lead the global effort against the COVID-19 pandemic. I am pleased to say that our on-ground teams have responded to the challenge and are working round the clock to receive, store, dispatch and help deliver thousands of vaccines from our vaccine hub in KIZAD to the rest of the UAE and the world each day.

“As part of our collective commitment to the broader humanity, we rely on our tried-and-tested fleet of Mercedes-Benz long-haul trucks, which have served MICCO, Abu Dhabi Ports and the Consortium with distinction. Their reliability and versatility boost our overall capability to transport vaccines and

other sensitive pharmaceuticals, and they play an important role as the Consortium partners bring hope and relief to the world at a time of need.”

VACCINE INTEGRITY CHALLENGE Lastly, the Consortium resolved the vaccine integrity challenge by connecting its entire vaccine supply chain, including the MICCO fleet, to ‘mUnity’, a digital blockchain-enabled solution, developed

by Maqta Gateway. mUnity tracks and traces the journey of the vaccines through the consortium’s supply chain to ensure that the supplies it delivers are safe, secure, and effective.

Realising that vaccine delivery is often not sufficient, the Consortium is also coupling vaccine deliveries with rapid on-ground deployment of medical and logistics experts, staff, trainers, and equipment.

The combined service enables countries and communities with limited medical and logistical capacities to inoculate their populations swiftly and efficiently, making sure that a vaccine delivered is a vaccine administered.

“THE LATEST GENERATION OF MERCEDES-BENZ ACTROS 2045S TRUCKS WERE DELIVERED TO MICCO LOGISTICS AND ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY.”

BESHOY MESSIHA, SALES MANAGER, EMIRATES MOTOR COMPANY (EMC) “EMC, THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES DIVISION, AND MICCO LOGISTICS HAVE A LONG RELATIONSHIP SPANNING MANY DECADES. MICCO HAVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF MERCEDES-BENZ TRUCKS IN THEIR FLEET INCLUDING ACTROS 1, ACTROS 2, ACTROS 3, ACTROS 4 AND ACTROS 5. MAJORITY OF THE MICCO FLEET COMPRISES OF MERCEDES-BENZ TRUCKS. “THE LATEST GENERATION OF MERCEDESBENZ ACTROS 2045S TRUCKS WERE DELIVERED TO MICCO LOGISTICS AND ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY INCLUDING – AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MERCEDES POWERSHIFT 3, MIRROR CAM, MULTIMEDIA COCKPIT AND AN 800-LITRE DUAL FUEL TANK CAPACITY. THE TRUCKS ARE USED BY MICCO FOR A VARIETY OF APPLICATIONS AND MOST RECENTLY FOR COVID 19 VACCINE TRANSPORT.”

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LOGISTICS & 2021 TRANSPORT AWARDS

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Industry leaders and experts from the logistics, supply chain and transport sectors came together on September 28, 2021, at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk to celebrate their achievements at the leaders in Hospitality Awards 2021. Here, are the winners and the best moments from the night.

ROBOSTORES BY SWISSLOG WAREHOUSE FACILITY-FIRM OF THE YEAR “We’re super excited to win this award. It means a lot to us. There is a lot of hard work that goes into winning it and efforts of the entire team – from RoboStores to Swisslog are rewarded. They’ve helped and supported us throughout the entire journey. And it’s a lot of work put in to create something like we do – an automated robotic fulfilment centre and warehouse here in the region. To be recognised for it is wonderful.”

Aziz Al-Harbi, Chief Operations Officer at Robostores

EXACTUS SYSTEMS MOST INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR LOGISTICS “We’re so glad to be back at events like these where hard work is appreciated and rewarded. We would like to thank BNC Publishing for shortlisting us and to my team for ensuring we win. We will continue to deliver awarding-wining products to the logistics industry. As a software developer our primary focus is to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly software solution to help clients improve their operational efficiency and enhance their returns on investment.”

Jinu Nair, Director – Operations Exactus Systems

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LOGISTICS & TRANSPORT AWARDS

EMIRATES LOGISTICS FREIGHT FORWARDING COMPANY OF THE YEAR “We’re thrilled to win this award especially since the past year and half has been challenging for the entire industry due to the pandemic. Our strategy in the past year has been focused on increasing our service portfolio and grow the firm to on a global scale to compete with multinational operators in the freight forwarding league. Regardless of the challenges, our product development team has done an excellent job. So, this win means a lot to the team. We’re very excited.”

Zahedi. G. Manawwar, General Manager, Emirates Logistics

SWYFT DELIVERY SOLUTIONS LOGISTICS STARTUP OF THE YEAR “I’m so overwhelmed with this win – not just me – but the whole team, who work really hard and have struggled a great deal to bring the company to the position it is at now. In the past 18 months, we have expanded to eight cities and 38 towns in Pakistan, this speaks volumes about our growth.

This award is a huge achievement for us and a big milestone. Thank you for giving us this platform and recognising our efforts.”

Nimra Khan, Marketing Manager, Swyft Delivery Solutions

LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021 | 21

LOGIPOINT LEADERS IN LOGISTICS REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS

“We are delighted to receive the award for the Leaders in Logistics Real Estate Solutions at the esteemed Logistics & Transport Awards 2021. It means a lot to us as we are expanding and enabling global and local clients in Saudi Arabia and increasing our footprint within

22 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

every city in the country. This is helping us support the logistics and supply chain industry, FMCG, pharma and all the other sectors in Saudi Arabia to do their business and focus on it while leaving the warehousing issues to us.”

Rayan Albakri, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, LogiPoint

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ASYAD THE INTEGRATED LOGISTICS SERVICE COMPANY OF THE YEAR

“For our customers, Asyad’s integrated logistics solutions mean end-to-end supply chain efficiency, visibility and scalability. With our full suite offering, from multi-purpose shipping to world-class ports and free zones, to superior warehousing, and to advanced technologies, we engineered robust logistics solutions that are efficiently aligned and tailored to our customers’ specific requirements.

24 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

We enable businesses to fulfil all their logistic objectives, with minimal effort and significant cost reduction by considering all logistic components, including transportation, custom clearance, and last-mile delivery.

Our goal is to become the backbone facilitator of global trade; enabling our customers to achieve new business milestones of operational efficiency, scalability and new markets reach.”

Abdulrahman Al Hatmi, Asyad Group CEO, ASYAD

LOGISTICS & TRANSPORT AWARDS

EITHAD CARGO CARGO OPERATOR OF THE YEAR “It’s always great to be recognised as the best cargo operators in the market and it’s good to see that hard work pays.

Throughout the past 12 months we have demonstrated our agility, and commitment to our customers to ensure that as a carrier, we remain their air cargo partner of choice. Through a series of investments in our fleet and product offering, key partnerships, and adjustments to network and schedules, we not only improved the customer journey, but provided vital airlift where it was needed most during an unprecedented time. I look forward to winning many more awards and outdo our performance in the future.”

BADER AL ALI | SENIOR CARGO COMMERCIAL MANAGER UAE, ME & CHARTERS AT ETIHAD

AL FUTTAIM LOGISTICS COLD CHAIN SERVICE PROVIDER “We’re ecstatic to win the award for the Cold Chain Service Provider of the Year. Our state-of-the-art cold storage warehouse in Jebel Ali is a multitemperature facility with space for more than 1,600 pallets with full temperature control ranging from +18°C to -22°C. The facility incorporates world-class warehouse management technology.

This award is a testament to our worldclass facility.”

Binoy George, General Manager, Warehousing & LastMile Distribution

LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021 | 25

DUBAI SOUTH THE INTEGRATED LOGISTICS SERVICE COMPANY OF THE YEAR

AbdulBasit AlMarzouqi (left), Director of Operations – Logistics District, Dubai South and Tariq Badri (right), Director of Business Development - Logistics District, Dubai South collect the award on behalf of Dubai South.

26 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

LOGISTICS & TRANSPORT AWARDS

KALE LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS DIGITAL SOLUTIONS PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

“It gives me immense pleasure to receive this award on behalf of Kale Logistics Solutions. Such recognitions are pushing us further and motivating us to deliver cutting edge digital transformations across the globe. Most importantly, receiving this award from Ahmed Salmeen of Al Masaood Group is a

privilege. With the Middle East playing a major role in the logistics and supply chain arena, Team Kale is all geared up to facilitate digital solutions in the coming days by setting new benchmarks.”

Nagarjun Peri, Business Development Head for Middle East, Kale Logistics Solutions

LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021 | 27

PREMIER LOGISTICS AUTOMOTIVE LOGISTICS COMPANY OF THE YEAR “Handling tires is a task and not easy at all, but we did it. This is an amazing moment for us at Premier Logistics. Winning the Automotive Logistics Company of the Year title feels great. I think this is phenomenal. I would like to thank my team for this award and to those who made it possible for us to win.”

Deepak Khushalani, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Premier Logistics

ALS LOGISTIC SOLUTION INNOVATION IN LOGISTICS “We are proud to announce that ALS won the “Innovation in Logistics” award at the Logistics Awards 2021 for its development of new technologies that achieve state-of-the-art fully automated warehouses. We thank the ALS team, clients, and partners for their constant support.”

“This award is an honour for the team and the management is elated with the win. It will encourage us to outdo ourselves in 2022.”

Wendelin Luetticke, Project Consultant at ALS Logistic Solutions

28 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

LOGISTICS & TRANSPORT AWARDS

IQ FULFILLMENT 3PL COMPANY OF THE YEAR “We’re pleased to have been chosen and selected. We have a fantastic team who’ve been working extremely hard the whole year.”

Mark Khayat, our SVP Global Commercial Operations, IQ Fulfillment

WESTFORD UNIVERSITY COLLEGE EDUCATION PROVIDER OF THE YEAR IN LOGISTICS & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

“We’re delighted to be the Education Provider of the Year in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Years of hard work has gone into getting us here.

We have a number of students who’ve graduated with an MBA in Supply Chain, Shipping & Logistics Management. This win is a milestone for Westford University College.”

Zawahir Siddique, Associate Dean and Head of Blended Learning at Westford University College

LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021 | 29

EMIRATES LOGISTICS INNOVATION IN TRANSPORT

“It’s an amazing achievement for us to get this renowned award. The team is thrilled to be recognised for their hard work. I must give all the credit to my team all the way down to the blue-

30 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

collar workers who really did the work to achieve something like this. I truly appreciate it.”

G. V. Gomes, General Manager – Fleet Logistics at Emirates Logistics

LOGISTICS & TRANSPORT AWARDS

AL FUTTAIM LOGISTICS - RAMAN KUMAR CEO OF THE YEAR

“I’m so thrilled to be named CEO of the Year in the logistics industry. It’s a prestigious awarded to be bestowed with. I’m delighted and would like to thank my team for putting in the hard work.”

Dr. Raman Kumar, Managing Director, Al-Futtaim Logistics

LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021 | 31

AJMAN FREE ZONE - ALI ALSUWAIDI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

“Thank you for the recognition.

I really appreciate this award. It’s been a tedious and challenging journey – the past 25 years of my career. Being bestowed the Lifetime Achievement

32 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

Award means a lot to me. This is going to push me to further do my best for the logistics and supply chain industry and to the team.”

Engineer Ali AlSuwaidi, Director General, Ajman Free Zone

LOGISTICS & TRANSPORT AWARDS

LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021 | 33

LNME

OP-ED

WELCOME TO THE ECOMMERCE BOOM Rita Huang, CEO of iMile writes how the rapid rise of eCommerce has been shaping transformations across the regional logistics industry

C

urrently, we are in the middle of an eCommerce boom. In recent years, the eCommerce market in the Middle East has grown rapidly, further amplified by the global pandemic. This in turn has caused the logistics landscape to experience a pivotal shift, which has transformed the way we shop and ship across the region.

34 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

A few key factors have provoked the rapid adoption of eCommerce. For starters, the Middle East has one of the youngest populations in the world, with more than 28% of people between the ages of 15-29. Given the population’s youth, rates of internet penetration are also some of the highest in the world.

As rapid digitalisation swept over the region in recent years, eCommerce became

an imminent reality, redefining not only the consumer’s path to purchase, but the way our business models operate. For the logistics industry, readiness has been critical for success.

A RIPPLE EFFECT And let’s not forget about the impact of COVID-19. The pandemic has played a key role in unlocking the potential of eCommerce by pushing people further online, creating a ripple effect across the retail, logistics and fintech industries.

Prior to COVID-19, the region’s eCommerce sector was already one of the fastest growing in the world, however it still accounted for just 2% of the retail market in the region. Today, 80% of young people in the Middle East shop online frequently and 50% are shopping more online now WWW.CBNME.COM

WELCOME TO THE ECOMMERCE BOOM | RITA HUANG, CEO OF IMILE

than before the pandemic. As a result, the size of the Middle East eCommerce market has quadrupled since 2015.

In key markets such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, an average of 58% of consumers stated they would maintain their current shopping behaviours post pandemic. In these countries, where the growth of ecommerce has been particularly prominent, strong trends of technological uplift have emerged.

Our shift online initially placed pressure on entire supply chains to adapt to meet growing customer demands, pushing the logistics industry to deliver even better service, and at a lower cost.

RISE IN ECOMMERCE In my experience with iMile, the rise of eCommerce has been a driving factor for the evolution of the logistics industry. When the pandemic first hit, flights were disconnected, and supply chains were disrupted. Since more than 50% of our business comes from China, this presented unforeseen challenges. At the same time, consumers were stuck in lockdown, shopping online more than ever before.

However, once border restrictions eased, the penetration of eCommerce accelerated,

causing iMile to grow 100% since last year.

Evidently, supply chain visibility is essential for any logistics business operating today. The rise of eCommerce made this more apparent than ever before. And we can’t talk about supply chain visibility without mentioning IoT sensor technology – vital for the efficient tracking of inventory, vehicles, and equipment through cloud-based technology.

IMPROVED OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY IoT sensors can collect real-time data to improve operational efficiency. For example, data on traffic patterns, weather or road conditions can be used to reshape demand or redirect supply to optimise route planning.

Logistics companies that have integrated real-time technology into their supply chain have reported 20% more efficiency than those without.

When it comes to the consumer experience, customer service is also a key touchpoint for the logistics industry.

Customer expectations have increased significantly, for both individuals and businesses. Consumers want goods faster, with more flexibility, and at lower costs. With a surge in online purchases, web

Rita Huang, CEO of iMile

to mobile technology is being increasingly incorporated to track customer interactions for a more agile communication model.

Another trend driving transformation in the logistics industry is sustainability.

Last-mile delivery tends to be viewed as an energy-consuming function. However, this has created opportunities for greener approaches to lessen environmental impact. For example, logistics companies are switching to electric vehicles and using AI-based software to calculate the transport route with the lowest emissions.

POWER OF TECHNOLOGY Essentially, to thrive in the logistics industry, we must continuously adapt to changes in the world around us. I

believe it is vital to harness the power of technology to constantly improve speed and efficiency.

Furthermore, developing more streamlined consumer touchpoints and simplified user interfaces also helps to keep customers satisfied within the ever-growing demands of the logistics industry.

Amongst all the technological trends that emerge, collaboration and adaptability are the main ingredients in the recipe for success within the ever-changing logistics landscape. Only by facing challenges head-on, and turning them into opportunities, can we truly test our resilience and continue to provide innovative solutions that drive the future of the logistics industry forward.

LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021 | 35

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REPORT

via a digital payment method – a 20% increase since Checkout. com’s 2020 report.

checkout.com

RELEASES PAYMENTS REPORT PAYMENT SOLUTIONS PROVIDER CHECKOUT.COM

LAUNCHED ITS ANNUAL MENA AND PAKISTAN (MENAP) PAYMENTS’ REPORT, AS CONSUMER DEMAND FOR DIGITAL COMMERCE CONTINUES TO SURGE

T

he whitepaper ‘Digital Transformation in MENA and Pakistan: Why payments are key to unlocking more growth and opportunity’ by Checkout. com highlights the development of the region’s eCommerce and Fintech sectors in the past 12 months and demonstrates the growth opportunity for merchants in this maturing market.

The report notes exponential growth in the eCommerce market throughout MENAP year-on-year. In 2020, 47% of consumers said that they expected to shop online more frequently over the next year.

In 2021, approximately 83% say that they’ll maintain or even increase their current level of eCommerce spending into 2022, suggesting an irrevocable shift in consumer behavior.

Convenience economy This shift has been especially pervasive for the convenience economy, with everyday items 36 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

such as food delivery, groceries, and household goods firm favorites. The report also finds an increase in the frequency of online shopping amongst consumers, with nearly half (45%) of those surveyed saying they shop online at least once a month.

Moreover, 53% say that they are doing more of their shopping online now compared with before the COVID-19 pandemic started. In peak seasons like Ramadan, online shopping also spikes. Earlier this year, 76% of consumers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia said that they anticipated purchasing products and services online more frequently during Ramadan.

This rise in digital commerce has been matched by greater sophistication in the region’s digital payments ecosystem.

Payment methods such as cashon-delivery and bank transfers have once again seen a decrease year-on-year. Instead, 60% of consumers in the region now prefer to pay for eCommerce

Flexible payment options This is also giving way to newer methods of paying, including digital wallets, in-app social shopping, and buy now pay later (BNPL) options. Checkout. com’s global data in 2021 suggests that the MENAP region is actually outpacing regions such as Europe and APAC for the adoption of in-app social shopping and BNPL. Today, three in four (76%) consumers in the region report using some form of fintech app in the past year, with 81% feeling they directly benefit from the growing fintech sector.

“A flourishing digital payments and eCommerce ecosystem is leading consumers to feel more empowered, with start-ups thriving in the fintech arena, and commercial markets opening up,” notes Mo Ali Yusuf, Regional Manager for MENAP at Checkout.com.

“Checkout.com has operated in the region since 2014 and has played a privileged role to enable eCommerce to flourish, offering a unified payment experience across all major markets in MENA. This has given us a unique vantage point across the market, with our 2021 report highlighting how much growth has been condensed into 12 short months – a testament to progressive government policies and forward-thinking governments who are opening up the region, harnessing the growth potential of fintech, and responding to the changing habits and expectations of their populations.”

Cross-border commerce Another sign of the region’s maturing eCommerce and digital payment industries is a sustained increase in cross-bor-

der commerce. Merchants who offer both international payment channels and popular local payment methods are enabling countries in the region to contribute to global value chains more effectively, according to the report.

Approximately 85% of consumers in the region have made online purchases from brands and retailers outside of their home country in the past 12 months, with a third (33%) citing cross-border shopping as their number one reason for shopping online. This year’s report further predicts that over 80% of large European enterprise merchants will be selling into the MENAP region by 2023.

Yusuf adds: “For the first time, our data shows us that MENAP has begun to outperform European markets in the adoption of emerging payment methods. This presents a phenomenal opportunity for global and domestic merchants to expand their businesses across MENA. We are proud to continue supporting this ecosystem to thrive, in what we forecast to be another year of exponential growth across the region.”

Leading voices within the region’s business community add perspective to these issues as part of this year’s Checkout.com report. Case studies and issues-based opinions are featured from organisations such as Careem, OSN, Fawry, Tamara, the MENA Fintech Association, Visa, and others, underscoring the importance of creative collaborations in advancing digital commerce.

WWW.CBNME.COM

LNME

SUSTAINABILITY

CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Mammoet’s Head of Sustainability, Erica Gray, discusses engineered heavy lifting’s role as an enabler of the transition to a low carbon future 38 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

WWW.CBNME.COM

CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE | MAMMOET’S HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, ERICA GRAY

“ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AND THE DEVELOPMENT BANKS ARE URGING GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT THE POST-CORONAVIRUS ECONOMY BY INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE – THROUGH ‘GREEN STIMULUS PACKAGES.” On the road to making the heavy industries carbon-neutral, our biggest hurdle is not the technical challenge, but the need to let go of “the way we’ve always done it”. I believe embracing change, taking risks, and becoming truly entrepreneurial in our approach is the route to creating a low carbon future.

Over the last couple of years there have been increasing calls for the world to switch to more sustainable economic models and practices. However, there is a big gap between this demand and what is currently practically possible.

M

oving towards a low carbon future for the heavy industries is a hugely challenging endeavor. But it is an area in which we can make great progress towards limiting the worst impacts of climate change and meeting the goals set out by the Paris Climate Agreement.

TEMPERATURES ON THE RISE According to the United Nations’ annual ‘emissions gap’ report, global temperatures are currently on pace to rise as much as 3.2 degrees by the end of the century. This is significantly higher than the two degrees many countries have pledged to stay ‘well below’. Yet, in the five years since the Paris Agreement carbon emissions have continued to rise.

Organisations such as the World Economic Forum and the development banks are urging governments to support the post-coronavirus economy by investing in infrastructure projects that are sustainable – through ‘green stimulus packages.

There has been much speculation that this is our big chance to re-launch economies on a more sustainable footing.

However, there are many practical hurdles to overcome in satisfying an energy-hungry planet with limited resources. The kind of massive infrastructure change required to meet the Paris targets does not happen quickly and the reality is we will need to continue to satisfy the demand for power as we transition to low carbon solutions.

LOW CARBON STRATEGIES To navigate this transitional period many of the world’s leading energy companies are setting out their plans. Recent legal and shareholder actions are adding extra pressure to this process by demanding that the energy sector sets out more ambitious low carbon strategies and roadmaps.

The good news is we are not starting from scratch: there is much knowledge and experience that can be ‘reused and recycled’ for more sustainable applications. In this way, Mammoet’s expertise from the traditional heavy industries can help our customers to meet their strategic sustainability targets and to create a whole new “greener” infrastructure. >>> LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021 | 39

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SUSTAINABILITY

For example, the experience we have built up in loadouts and heavy lifting offshore can be utilised for the efficient execution of wind projects - particularly floating wind, where foundations will reach over ten thousand tonnes.

EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION Modularisation techniques - used to deliver more efficient construction for conventional industrial projects over the last three or four decades - will also enable the renewables sector to enjoy faster, safer, and more cost-effective projects with potentially lower carbon footprints.

The wind industry can particularly benefit from expertise from conventional industry. As hub heights increase and wind turbine components grow everlarger, technologies developed with different industries in mind will make a big difference.

Super heavy lift cranes will help to broaden participation in wind energy by making more ports viable for offshore wind projects, while on land they will allow assembly of huge turbine structures and support the provision of the necessary infrastructure for power distribution networks.

highly efficient modularisation techniques, supported by the heavy lifting know-how and equipment that have moved modules of over 40,000t.

Besides new construction, there are also opportunities for existing facilities to upgrade to more efficient techniques or to include carbon capture. The extensive experience our colleagues have accumulated on how to work in active, busy, and constricted plants can be a huge benefit here – not to mention the highly-specialised gantries and cranes that have been developed for this purpose.

LOW CARBON EQUIPMENT In addition to enabling new infrastructure through more efficient solutions, heavy lifting and transport companies can help

EPCs and owners to bring down the impact of their own operations by switching to low carbon equipment.

Cranes and transport solutions that are hybrid or electrically powered, such as the electric SPMT or more efficient systems such as our Trailer Power Assist, can help bring more sustainable infrastructure online while reducing a project’s carbon impact. This is of growing importance in the civil sector, where carbon emissions are closely monitored in line with governmental requirements to reduce the carbon footprint of publicly funded projects.

Working with low carbon fuels, such as biofuels or fuels derived from waste products, can reduce carbon emissions further. We have already completed our first project using fuel derived from waste cooking oil. Even preparing the ground on which you work can be done in a way that is less carbon emitting – using innovative products such as Enviro-Mat. There are many ways in which Mammoet can enable the energy transition – especially by using our expertise from elsewhere in heavy industry to support the growth of renewable energy and help our customers de-carbonise existing ways of working. There is so much more to be discovered - if we are willing to embrace the new and take the bold step away from the old.

By working with us early in project planning we can find ways to cut the carbon impacts of projects. We are open to new ways of working and combining expertise and perspectives to support the energy and heavy industries in becoming a big part of the solution to the climate crisis.

MODULARISATION TECHNIQUES And it doesn’t end there. New facilities such as waste-to-energy plants, biofuel facilities or co-located steel and energy production plants can all benefit from 40 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

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LNME

COLD CHAIN

THERMO KING

TO DELIVER ALL-ELECTRIC, ZERO-EMISSION SOLUTIONS FOR COLD CHAIN BY 2023

T

hermo King, a brand of Trane Technologies, announced that it will invest more than USD100 million over the next three years to deliver a fully electric product in every segment of the cold chain by 2023.

The company’s all-electric portfolio, branded evolve, will include electric refrigeration solutions for truck, trailer, rail, air and marine transport in the North America, Latin America and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) regions.

The evolve portfolio aligns with customers’ goals to transition to more sustainable solutions for their fleets, and will help advance Trane Technologies’ 2030 Sustainability Commitments, including its Gigaton Challenge to reduce customer greenhouse gas emissions by 1 billion metric tons.

As new products are added to the evolve portfolio, electric solutions will be available in every cold chain segment in EMEA by 2023, and in the Americas by 2025.

“Bold solutions for a more sustainable world are core to our strategy. We 42 | LOGISTICS NEWS ME | OCTOBER 2021

continue to innovate to help reduce the carbon footprint of customer operations,” said Paul Camuti, chief technology and sustainability officer for Trane Technologies.

“The evolve portfolio builds on our ongoing efforts to help customers reduce environmental impact and meet their sustainability goals as they transition fleets and stay ahead of future regulation.”

The global leader in temperature control

solutions already offers fully electric products such as the E-200 for middle and last-mile delivery, and the TE-18 and Athenia all-electric HVAC units for public bus transit.

Successfully launched in EMEA in 2020, the Advancer trailer unit is 30% more fuel efficient than the market average and can operate on a variety of power sources such as shore power, hybrid, holdover battery and axle generator. In the Americas region, the enhanced electric architecture on the connected Precedent trailer unit leverages shore power and will undergo field trials with customers later this year.

These innovations will pave the way for all-electric zero-emission trailer refrigeration units in both regions.

“Our expertise in electrification has positioned Thermo King as a trusted partner to respected industry leaders such as Isuzu, Tesco, Mercedes-Benz and technology companies such as ELMS, Gatik and BPW who continue to find new ways to innovate the cold chain,” said Karin De Bondt, president for Thermo King Americas.

“Through these strategic partnerships we are able to further our advancements of sustainable power solutions and electrified product offerings that meet customer, regulatory and environmental requirements in our industry and our world.”

Providing electric solutions for buildings, homes and refrigerated transportation is part of Trane Technologies’ overall approach to reducing carbon emissions in the industries it serves, meeting its Gigaton Challenge for a more sustainable future, and supporting net-zero cities.

WWW.CBNME.COM

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