FA R E Y E | T R I U M P H PAY
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Issue 06
KBR LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY
The solutions provider powering progress with a unique company culture
MASTERS OF MATERIAL HANDLING
Technological endeavors guided by innovation and adaptation
Operating beneath the banner of Daifuku North America, we talk to Cory Flemings, Executive Vice President of Sales at Wynright Corporation, the leading provider of automated logistics systems
JAMES MCINTYRE, Managing Director at Melcar Group, tells us of the company’s beginnings with “a sledgehammer and a vision”
travel magazine I
n a changing world, where the travel industry must adapt to challenging global situations, our mission at Outlook Travel remains the same. We will continue to showcase some of the world’s most inspiring destinations, offering real insight and comprehensive travel guides for when global mobility resumes.
ISSUE 06
The major component of the publication takes the form of our Outlook Travel Guides, providing executives, avid travellers and our existing 575,000 international subscribers with the ultimate rundown of all the major economic drivers and thriving hubs across the world, with exclusive input from tourism industry associations and stakeholders – the people who know these places the best.
T R AV E L G U I D E
SOUTH AFRICA’S WESTERN CAPE
Sprawling mountains, ocean vistas and world-class wine T R AV E L B U S I N E S S
AUTO EUROPE
Reinventing the meaning of service for the travel industry
TRAVEL GUIDE
MEXICO CITY
You can join the vast numbers of tourism sector players enjoying the exposure we provide across our digital and print platforms with a range of options, from advertising through to free-of-charge editorials, extensive social media saturation, enhanced B2B networking opportunities, and a readymade forum to attract new investment and increase exposure.
Mezcal and mole in Mexico’s mega-city
JORDAN BANKS, the highly acclaimed travel and lifestyle photographer, tells all about keeping busy during the pandemic
THAILAND TRAVEL GUIDE
THAILAND
MALAYSIA TRAVEL GUIDE
This Southeast Asian country is a perennial favourite, thanks to an intoxicating combination of beautiful beaches, world-renowned cuisine and incredible temple complexes
M A L AYS I A
Writer: Dani Redd | Project Manager: Jordan Levey
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nown as the ‘Land of Smiles’, Thailand is a friendly country that welcomed 38.27 million tourists to its shores last year. There are plenty of reasons why this Southeast Asian destination is so popular. For a start, there’s the beaches. In the south, Thailand’s two coastlines stretch for miles, populated by swathes of icing-sugar soft sand, the bays speckled with dramatic limestone formations. Thailand is also home to 1,430 islands, ranging from full moon party spots like Koh Pha Ngan to the more off the beaten track Similan Islands, a national marine park popular with scuba divers. Then, there’s the food. Thailand’s noodles, stir fries and curries are beloved around the
world, characterised by the fragrant taste of lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and tulsi. Every town is bursting at the seams with floating markets, street food stalls and high-end restaurants where you can try delicious local dishes. Thailand’s rich spiritual heritage also attracts tourists. Golden temples and larger-than-life Buddha statues can be found across the country. Visitors can experience colourful religious festivals in the northeast of the country or explore the underground cave shrines in Kanchanaburi and Phetchaburi. Despite Thailand’s popularity, it’s easy to find a quiet corner to relax, be it on a deserted island or an eco-retreat in the craggy mountains north of Chiang Mai.
Malaysia is a melting pot with a unique culture, a world-renowned food scene and a spectacular landscape of islands, ancient rainforest and mountains Writer: Dani Redd Project Manager: Joe Palliser
NAMIBIA TRAVEL GUIDE
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here are many reasons why Malaysia is a tourist favourite. For a start, there’s the landscape. Imagine 878 islands, ringed with white sand beaches leading down to translucent waters. Vibrant coral reefs lie just offshore, home to a profusion of marine life. Inland are ancient rainforests, the shaded canopy seemingly impenetrable. Take a guided walk to learn about this habitat’s astonishing biodiversity. You might even catch sight of a tapir, or a silver-leafed monkey swimming through the jungle canopy. Outdoor enthusiasts will also relish tackling some of region’s towering granite mountains or exploring the intricate networks of limestone caves. Then, there’s the culture. Malaysia
is a melting point of Malay, Indian, Chinese and aboriginal groups (Orang Asli). There’s a packed calendar of religious festivals, including Wesak, or Buddha’s birthday, celebrated with processions of flowers and candles. Cities such as Melaka and Georgetown boast fascinating heritage districts where you can experience this fascinating fusion for yourself. Make sure you take time out to try Malaysia’s delicious cuisine, which reflects its multicultural population. Of course, Malaysia has a modern side too. It can be found in the SEYCHELLES malls, skyscrapers and fine dining TRAVEL restaurants in larger cities, such as the GUIDE capital Kuala Lumpur.
S E YC H E L L E S Most people visit this archipelago in the Indian Ocean for the beaches, but it has much more to offer than that Writer: Dani Redd | Project Manager: Jordan Levey
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escribing the Seychelles, it’s easy to veer into cliché. These picture-perfect islands are blessed with white sand beaches lapped by translucent water, fringed with palm trees and interesting rock formations. The dramatic sunsets, laidback atmosphere and a wide range of luxury accommodation make them a popular spot for honeymooners. The Seychelles consists of 115 islands and some small islets, located
NAMIBIA Namibia is a country of rugged, otherworldly landscapes; a desert realm with a complex history and culturally diverse inhabitants Writer: Dani Redd | Project Manager: Joe Palliser
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amibia is known for its sparse, otherworldly landscapes. It gets its name from the Namib, the world’s oldest desert; a sparse, windswept region extending 1,900 kilometres down Africa’s Atlantic coast. The desert is characterised by its red dunes, which plunge down towards the ocean at Sandwich Harbour and Skeleton Coast. It’s also known for its white clay and salt pans, such as Deadvlei, where there are hundreds of ossified trees. Another scenic spot in the desert is Moon Landscape, named after its eerie, pockmarked topography. But sightseeing in Namibia isn’t just about deserts. Inland you’ll find the green-gold grasslands of the Kalahari, and rugged mountains such as the Brandberg, Spitzkoppe and Damaraland.
Tourists flock to Namibia to experience its remote corners. Hot air ballooning, sand boarding and offroad quad bike excursions are all popular activities. When it comes to safaris, Namibia offers some unrivalled experiences – head to Etosha National Park to see big cats, elephants and black rhinos. Namibia has a fascinating history. It was inhabited as early as 25,000 BC, with tribes such as Ovambo and Herero gradually migrating into the country. In the “Scramble for Africa” Namibia became a German colony, known as German South West Africa, in 1884. After over a century of bloody battles, Namibia finally gained independence in 1990. These days it’s a country rich in historical attractions and cultural diversity; a country with plenty of stories to tell.
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in the Indian Ocean at a crossroads between Asia and Africa. Most of the action is concentrated around the three major islands: Mahé, La Digue and Praslin. Mahé is the largest and most populous; home to the capital, Victoria, and transport hub to the rest of the islands. La Digue is renowned for having some of the best beaches in the archipelago. Praslin, meanwhile, is home to the idyllic Vallée de Mai nature reserve. But there’s more to the Seychelles
than just the beaches. Trek through the granite mountains and lush rainforests of the Morne Seychellois National Park. Try some of the island’s traditional Creole dishes at a local restaurant. Or if you’re a nature lover, head to Bird Island to observe its population of fairy terns and common noddies, as well as the giant Aldabra tortoises endemic to the archipelago. You’ll be bowled over by what the Seychelles has to offer.
WELCOME EDITORIAL Head of Editorial: Phoebe Harper phoebe.harper@outlookpublishing.com Senior Editor: Marcus Kääpä marcus.kaapa@outlookpublishing.com PRODUCTION Production Director: Stephen Giles steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com Senior Designer: Devon Collins devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com Designer: Matt Loudwell matt.loudwell@outlookpublishing.com Production Assistant: Courtney Solomon courtney.solomon@outlookpublishing.com Social Media Manager: Dan Nash dan.nash@outlookpublishing.com BUSINESS CEO: Ben Weaver ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com Managing Director: James Mitchell james.mitchell@outlookpublishing.com Sales Director: Nick Norris nick.norris@outlookpublishing.com Commercial Director: Joshua Mann joshua.mann@outlookpublishing.com REGIONAL DIRECTOR Tom Cullum tom.cullum@outlookpublishing.com PROJECT MANAGER Lewis Bush lewis.bush@outlookpublishing.com HEADS OF PROJECTS Callam Waller callam.waller@outlookpublishing.com Eddie Clinton eddie.clinton@outlookpublishing.com Thomas Arnold thomas.arnold@outlookpublishing.com TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Vivek Valmiki vivek.valmiki@outlookpublishing.com SALES & PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Donovan Smith donovan.smith@outlookpublishing.com SALES MANAGERS David Knott david.knott@outlookpublishing.com Krisha Canlas krisha.canlas@outlookpublishing.com Matt Cole-Wilkin matt.cole-wilkin@outlookpublishing.com Ryan Gray ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com
ADMINISTRATION Finance Director: Suzanne Welsh suzanne.welsh@outlookpublishing.com Finance Assistant: Eleanor Bennett eleanor.bennett@outlookpublishing.com Office Manager: Daniel George daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com CONTACT North America Outlook 69-75 Thorpe Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1UA, United Kingdom. Sales: +44 (0) 1603 363 631 Editorial: +44 (0) 1603 363 655 SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: +44 (0) 1603 363 655 phoebe.harper@outlookpublishing.com www.northamericaoutlookmag.com Like us on Facebook: @northamericaoutlook Follow us on Twitter: @NA_Outlook
Veterans and Visionaries This sixth edition of North America Outlook encapsulates a selection of companies devoted to the advancement of modern living, leveraging cutting-edge innovation for the sake of a greener planet. In pole position, Wynright Corporation, a subsidiary of Daifuku North America, is leading the charge on digitalization. Bolstered by 84 years of industry, Executive Vice President of Sales Cory Fleming examines pioneering logistical automation solutions to streamline supply chains. “We stand behind our solutions and follow our words with actions, or as some would say, we ‘walk the talk’,” he tells us. Answering the heightened demand for sustainability, we explore Wynright’s advancement of green operations on behalf of its customers, in pursuit of the Daifuku Environmental Vision of 2050 as the company exceeds the standard efforts of driving energy conservation in intralogistics solutions. Complimentary to these efforts, we shine a light on FarEye - a company whose Intelligent Delivery Platform supplies the technology to truly revolutionize modern means of distribution by reducing carbon emissions with an emphasis on heightened profitability for the bottom line. Elsewhere, discover how the historic institution of KBR has evolved to become a name synonymous with delivering solutions for modern problems that matter; whether that’s accelerating commercial space travel hand in hand with NASA, or spearheading decarbonization with breakthrough technological solutions and as an industry-leading advisory voice. “We’re involved in advancing solutions around the next plastic circular economy. We have found a technology that revolutionizes plastics recycling by enabling us to recycle 90 percent of all plastics,” comments CEO Stuart Bradie. Despite the company’s rich heritage, Bradie discusses the need for trading on the future, with an innovative company culture as the bedrock to propel KBR forward. Also confronting the plastic problem is DEW Mighty – the retail beauty brand striving for zero waste as an up-and-coming business with a visionary perspective on how we consume and dispose of products. “We are still producing and throwing away plastic at such a tremendous rate with such low recyclability that we end up giving too much credit to a system that isn’t circular or sustainable enough,” explains founder and creator Tiffany Buzatto. Boasting an array of other modern-minded enterprises, we also showcase true innovators such as Lummus Technology, TriumphPay and the leaders in North American construction, Melcar Group. On behalf of all at North America Outlook, we hope that you enjoy this inspiring read. Phoebe Harper Head of Editorial, Outlook Publishing North America Outlook issue 06 | 3
CONTENTS
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10
18
82
REGULARS
6 NEWS
TOPICAL FOCUS
Around North America in seven stories
18 Sustainability
10 EXPERT EYE Heralding the new era of the retail supply chain
BUSINESS INSIGHT
12 Sport
NFL London 2021 Feats and moments from the Jaguars vs Dolphins game
12 4 | North America Outlook issue 06
14 Retail
Striving for Zero Waste Channelling planet positivity in the retail sector
Business in the Age of Social Responsibility Consumer expectations and effective corporate compliance
82 THE FINAL WORD What person or piece of advice is a source of inspiration to your industry?
NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK MAGAZINE
22
42
50
76
F E AT U R E S
20 SHOWCASING LEADING COMPANIES
CONSTRUCTION
Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world
Hitting Home Construction
SUPPLY CHAIN
22 Wynright Corporation
The Masters of Material Handling
50 Melcar Group
Delivering multi-faceted infrastructure construction services in North America
TECHNOLOGY
Supplying logistical automation solutions across the US
58 KBR
42 TriumphPay
The solutions provider powering progress with a unique company culture
Forward-thinking Finance Streamlining the supply chain payment process
58
Trading on the Future with KBR
76 FarEye
68 Lummus Technology
Make Your Delivery Operations More Sustainable with These Key Strategies
Technological endeavors guided by innovation and adaptation
Safeguarding the planet and streamlining logistics operations through intelligent delivery management
Making Modern Life Possible
North America Outlook issue 06 | 5
NEWS Around North America in seven stories… H E A LT H C A R E
COVID-19 boosters Moderna and J&J FDA approved
TECHNOLOGY
TRUMP TO LAUNCH NEW SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM F O RMER US President Donald Trump recently announced that he plans to launch a new social media platform called TRUTH Social. During his tenure as President, social media played as a significant means of his communication and, prior to that, a pivotal role in Trump’s bid for the White House. Following the storming of the US Capitol Building and his criticized online
posts, Trump was banned from Twitter and Facebook. Trump accused large tech companies of silencing voices in the US, and stated that if created, TRUTH Social would be used to “stand up to the tyranny of big tech”, although there is varied speculation as to whether the platform will materialize, and the notion has faced much criticism.
FOOD & DRINK
US spirits industry pushing for lower excise taxes T HE SP I R I TS industry is pushing for states to lower excise taxes on canned cocktails across the US. Excise taxes have been placed on alcoholic beverages for centuries, and since the repeal of the Prohibition, taxes on 6 | North America Outlook issue 06
B OTH M O D E R N A and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used as booster jabs. The FDA said that Americans are able to receive booster doses that vary from the vaccine jabs they had initially. This new option to ‘mix-and-match’ arrives a month after the FDA’s authorization of Pfizer booster jabs for some US citizens, including the over 65, frontline workers and those of high risk. However, so far less than five percent of Americans have received a booster jab, and the FDA’s ruling requires a further final approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before the alternative boosters can be delivered.
spirits in particular have been higher than others, such as wine and beer. The substantial rise in the popularity of canned cocktails has brought with it more attention to the issue, and this in turn has helped the states of Michigan and Nebraska pass laws to lower taxes on such drinks in this year, with New Jersey and Pennsylvania having bills sitting in each of their state legislatures, and many other states having bills that will roll into their 2022 sessions.
TRANSPORT
ECONOMY
US UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS FALL
Tesla to change battery cells used in standardrange cars T ES L A I S changing the battery cell chemistry that is currently used in its standard-range cars. The new form of battery will make use of lithium-ionphosphate (LFP) as opposed to the current nickel-cobalt-aluminium; this present version will still be used for the company’s longer-range vehicles. It is speculated that this action will allow Tesla to increase profit margins on its fully electric vehicles (EVs) without necessarily having to increase the price. Tesla is currently
producing cars with LFP at its factory in Shanghai, and these are sold in China, Europe and across the AsiaPacific region.
TH E N U MB E R of US citizens claiming unemployment benefits has fallen to a new low point since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic period. One year ago, around 24 million people were receiving unemployment aid, and September saw around seven million people lose jobless benefits after the expiration of two emergency programs, one of which provided aid to independent contractors and the self-employed, and the second that covered those unemployed for over six months.
A E R O S PAC E
United Airlines posts unexpectedly high revenue in wake of travel demands AN INCREASED travel demand over the course of the summer has seen United Airlines report a higherthan-expected level of revenue despite the COVID-19 Delta variant having been speculated to damage third-quarter revenue.
Chicago- based United’s thirdquarter sales totaled over $7.7 billion compared to estimates given by analysts from Wall Street, and the airline revealed a net income of $473 million thanks to an over $1.1 billion boost in federal payroll aid. United is the second major US airline to report its third-quarter revenue, and the company said that its fourth quarter may be affected by a rise in fuel cost at $2.39 per gallon up from $2.14 in the third.
TECHNOLOGY
FACEBOOK PLANS TO CHANGE ITS NAME FAC E B O O K I S planning to change its name to encompass its multiple companies (including Instagram and WhatsApp), and because of a mounting pressure caused by the criticism of its business practices. The social media giant plans to announce a new name soon and wants to be known for more than just social media. On top of its flagship social media network, Facebook’s name change could place the three platforms under an umbrella brand like that of Google’s overarching parent company Alphabet. The name change represents a new direction for Facebook, and the combination of platforms under one body points to the formation of a metaverse in the works that will engage users on another level using both virtual and augmented reality technology.
North America Outlook issue 06 | 7
Outlook Creative Services Complementing the production of North America Outlook, APAC Outlook, EME Outlook and Africa Outlook magazines, Outlook Publishing’s awardwinning in-house team is now utilizing these same specialist production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division. For more information on how we can work with you in providing a plethora of completely flexible and customizable production services, please visit: www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services
DESIGN: Stephen Giles +44 (0) 1603 363 634 steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com
E D I TO R I A L : Phoebe Harper +44 (0) 1603 363 655 phoebe.harper@outlookpublishing.com
Devon Collins +44 (0) 1603 363 656 devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com
Marcus Kääpä +44 (0) 1603 363 653 marcus.kaapa@outlookpublishing.com
EXPERT EYE
Clear goals: ‘radical transparency’ in the fashion supply chain Debbie Shakespeare, from Avery Dennison RBIS, examines the urgent need for radical transparency in the fashion supply chain, and how this will cut carbon emissions and pursue a greener future for the industry Written by: Debbie Shakespeare, Senior Director of Compliance, Sustainability and Core PLM, Avery Dennison RBIS
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he fashion industry sells glamour and style. But it’s also passionately committed to change, which is urgently needed in the era of climate crisis. It’s worth noting from the outset that industry experts are not alone in calling for change in the industry, this is being pushed for by their customers, who are increasingly demanding more sustainable, transparent, and traceable garments across the supply chain. As a result, fashion brands are embarking on a new generation of transparency.
A NEW ERA IS EMERGING When we think about radical transparency, it’s about reporting on the processes, the carbon emissions, 10 | North America Outlook issue 06
the make-up of a product and its origins. It’s the story of how the product is made, proof that it is not a counterfeit, and information about how it can be resold. There’s so much data available to brands to share today, but currently it’s under-utilized, simply because they’re just not comfortable in making it public. Key industry leaders are frequently petitioning for the need to move from policies to action in addressing environmental and economic performance across the full supply chain. This was undeniably the resounding message at the recent CFS+ 2021 event that I spoke at in October, but this will require collaboration, innovation, and an open dialogue to move it into action. With this in mind, I would strongly urge fashion brands to begin embracing this new generation of transparency that is going to be increasingly demanded by the consumer and investors imminently. It will quickly become a nonnegotiable requirement following the introduction of legislation by governments too. Knowing where to start, and what tools are available to enable this new level of transparency can be daunting for brands, however
once implemented a fundamentally different supply chain will emerge. Collaboration and standardization will be needed to drive this change, and digital labelling/IDs that plug into central databases of shared information will be at the heart of the revolution.
SEWING UP THE CIRCULARITY LOOP Since the pandemic, 70 percent of consumers are more likely to interact with QR codes, according to new research we (Avery Dennison) commissioned with GWI. Retailers have seen first-hand during the COVID-19 pandemic, how consumers can quickly embrace digital connection points if tailored to their needs. This paves the way for new behaviors around sustainability. Digitally connected labels enable brands to clearly inform consumers of the end-of-life recycling options for items they no longer need, and cannot resell or re-use. These QR codes also inform recyclers of the material content of garments for safe and efficient processing. Our research found that, across the global markets surveyed, 62 percent of people believed brands and retailers should be making end-of-life options
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accessible for their products, with 58 percent saying fashion brands should help consumers repair items, and 57 percent saying brands should help consumers resell items when they no longer want to keep them.
COLLABORATION IS THE KEY TO PROGRESSION Circularity in fashion can only become a practical reality when the right partnerships are struck up. Earlier this year, US lifestyle brand UpWest and reuse operator ReCircled enlisted Avery Dennison to provide the digital triggers and data connectivity essential to complete the circularity loop. The case study revealed how products get a second life. Shoppers have the opportunity to scan the QR codes on Avery Dennison’s Digital Hang Tags and Digital Care Labels to take them on a journey outlining the item’s story, how it should be looked after and allowing them to engage closely with the UpWest brand. Scott Kuhlman, CEO of ReCircled, spoke of how Digital Care Labels are pivotal in the upcycling process. “If we have textile information on Digital Care Labels, we can make processing decisions very quickly. We know what we are dealing with, and we
can embark on a much clearer, purer process for the recycling.” Robert Smith, director of sourcing and production at UpWest said the strength of the collaboration has underpinned the project’s success, turning unneeded sweater stock into mittens and blankets. “Together we created something new out of existing products, but it was also about telling a story and challenging norms,” he said. The priority for the fashion industry needs to be around diverting clothing and materials from landfill, and, like many other industries, reduce emissions too. Collaborations like this example can make a huge difference as all corners of the industry come together to share their individual expertise with a common goal in mind. Digital solutions have a direct impact on reducing waste within a supply chain, providing much needed transparency. Look at radio-frequency identification (RFID) for example, it’s designed to take waste out of the supply chain, whilst providing supply chain inventory accuracy, and reducing waste enables a direct link between the supply chain and a lesser carbon footprint. The commitment within the
apparel industry to make the change is undeniable. The majority of organizations have been vocal about that. But now the focus must be how the apparel industry comes together to move beyond commitments into action. I believe the innovative digital solutions available to brands and strong partnerships will be the key to unlocking the circular economy.
ABOUT THE EXPERT Debbie Shakespeare is an expert on creating sustainable businesses and driving up global standards. She has been creating meaningful and impactful results within the Apparel Solutions division of Avery Dennison for the past decade. As the senior director overseeing sustainability, compliance and core product line management, Debbie ensures Avery Dennison is on track to deliver on its 2030 goals and holds suppliers to appropriate environmental and social sustainability standards. She also serves as a sustainability spokesperson to organizations and companies.
North America Outlook issue 06 | 11
NFL LONDON 2021
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NFL LONDON 2021 We take a closer look at last week’s game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins during the National Football League (NFL), and the pinnacle moments that made it Writer: Marcus Kääpä
12 | North America Outlook issue 06
SPORT
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cross the US, American football stands as the most popular sport by a long margin. This comes as a surprise at first when you look at the level of active participation in the country (around nine million); the sport falls behind the likes of basketball (30 million), baseball (29 million), and even association football (or soccer, at 13.5 million). But take into account the way the game operates, the national pride that echoes in its name, and its commercial value, it isn’t hard to see how American football takes center stage when it comes to fan following and support. It exists as the favourite sport of around 37 percent of Americans. Widely regarded as a sport like no other, athletic potency, armoured bodies and a near martial level of strategy merge into a game with a depth of complexity in which no two moments are ever the same. And within the UK, American football’s fandom is growing. This year’s NFL London 2021 has so far seen some incredible feats, and it would be remiss not to take a closer look at the recent climactic victory of the Jacksonville Jaguars over the Miami Dolphins.
JAGUARS VS DOLPHINS Amid the stars of the show there was the Jaguars’ own Trevor Lawrence, the number one pick at this year’s draft and described as the ‘best quarterback of his generation’, who celebrated the first win of a muchexpected glory-filled NFL future career. Taking place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Jaguars and Dolphins didn’t enter the early game with many wins; the former came into the game with a 0-5 record, yet despite this, the game was seen by fans and players alike as highly competitive. The crowd was treated to witnessing the second-longest
losing streak in NFL history come to an end, highlighted by kicker Matthew Wright’s field goal in the final play that hoisted the Jaguars to a 23-20 win. The victory under head coach Urban Meyer meant everything to the Jaguars who had entered Sunday’s game with a 20-game losing streak – six losses off matching the 1976-1977 Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 26 straight loss record.
CLINCHING VICTORY The Jaguars had twice come up from behind, managing to level with the Dolphins at 20-20 with a 54-yard field goal. Nearing the end, the crowd of over 60,000 looked on to what was inevitably to be overtime. But with the Jaguars on fourth and eight with only five seconds remaining, they ran the play, made the first down and called a timeout with a single second left on the clock. The Jaguars’ comeback was driven by quarterback Lawrence and a defense involving many critical stops in the second half. Lawrence cut the team’s halftime deficit to 13-10 after hitting Marvin Jones Jr. on a 28-yard touchdown pass following a throw for 319 yards. The game’s final drive saw Lawrence’s completions of 12 and nine yards to Laviska Shenault Jr. set up Wright for a reputable and gamewinning field goal kick at 53 yards. While Wright’s late heroics allowed the Jaguars to snatch the victory from the opposition, Lawrence ended the game having completed 25 of 41 passes for 319 yards, the most the
22-year-old has managed in his career so far.
DOLPHINS DIVE The Dolphins had relinquished the lead and made a play to bring it back. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hit wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for a two-yard touchdown moving the Dolphins back in front with 10:25 left on the clock. Despite this, the team’s offense had limited success on their last two drives. Before going on to win, the Jaguars tied the game with Wright’s 54-yard field goal. It had been a solid performance from Tagovailoa as his first game back from injury. The quarterback threw for 329 yards with two touchdowns and a single interception on 33 of 47 passing. Tagovailoa’s favored target throughout the game was tight end Mike Gesicki who caught eight of nine targets for 115 yards. Waddle capped off the game’s opening drive with a six-yard touchdown reception. The Dolphins now own the league’s longest losing streak at 1-5 after winning their season-opener against the Patriots. The Jaguars vs Dolphins game was the 30th regular-season game in London since the NFL’s international series started back in 2007. “We were desperate for a win,” Meyer commented in the aftermath. “There were a lot of things to fix. “But you saw a young quarterback make a big-time play at the biggest time of the game, and then a young kicker that we just signed a couple weeks ago pop two 50-plus yarders, so it was a great win.” North America Outlook issue 06 | 13
DEW MIGHTY
STRIVING FOR ZERO WASTE
Tiffany Buzatto, Founder and Creator of California-based skincare brand DEW Mighty, talks sustainability in retail and establishing a brand without moral compromise Writer: Phoebe Harper
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ero Waste, eco-friendly, carbon neutral. As the buzzwords to define global consumer trends, we frequently see these phrases strung out as corporate marketing tactics - empty hashtags that distract from genuine sustainability commitments. Nowhere is this more prevalent 14 | North America Outlook issue 06
than within the retail sector and cosmetics in particular; an industry that continues to rely on singleuse plastics and is one of the worst offenders in terms of waste and emissions footprint due to packaging and global shipping. According to a 2020 report on Plastic Free Beauty by ‘Beat the Micro
Bead’, the global cosmetics industry produces over 120 billion units of packaging per year. A staggering 95 percent of this packaging is thrown away after just one use, with nine percent of the plastic waste that has been produced ending up being recycled. Meanwhile, 79 percent of that plastic waste is destined for landfills, dumps, or the natural environment. Now more than ever, retailers and brands must address the worldwide packaging problem. We shine a light on one brand who abides by these environmental slogans as a company mantra. “We’re based in beauty, but we want to change the way that people look at objects. We want to design them, make them essential, highperforming and plastic free. “We want to get rid of this idea that when you use something up, you
RETAIL throw it away or recycle it, because it will just magically go away.” From the company’s base in Hermosa Beach, California, founder and creator of DEW Mighty, Tiffany Buzatto, is a passionate spokesperson for all matters pertaining to sustainability, channelling these beliefs and ethos into her visionary business. “We don’t intend to have a large product range and hyping up consumerism is against our main philosophy. We should always be looking to refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle, but as a last resort,” she comments. As an entirely waterless beauty product, DEW Mighty avoid the billions of pounds of water that are shipped around the world to produce skincare products. Since inception and a delayed company launch in April 2020 thanks to the turbulent events of the COVID-19 pandemic, the brand has garnered attention from the likes of Forbes, Women’s Health, and Marie Claire, with the innovative launch of its solid serum bar. While Buzatto’s outlook on North America’s cosmetics industry and its incorporation of sustainability is hopeful, she remains cognizant of the giant strides that still need to be taken. Having been in the beauty industry for over 15 years and involved in many different segments - from manufacturing to business development - the need for improvement is obvious. “Many large beauty companies are still talking more about recycling and focusing on products with reclaimed packaging, so consumers are convinced that they’re doing good by buying those products. “But the reality is that we are still
producing and throwing away plastic at such a tremendous rate with such low recyclability, that this gives too much credit to a system that isn’t circular or sustainable enough,” she tells us.
DEW MIGHTY THE BLOOM JELLY SERUM BAR DEW Mighty’s hero item is the solid Bloom Jelly Serum Bar – a concentrated block of skincare serum that caters to all skin types. A waterless product, the bar’s unique formula is designed to nourish and calm the skin for a healthy body, and healthy planet. The products are packaged in custom designed plated steel which is robust for refilling throughout its lifetime. All materials used are considered food safe, non-toxic, and 100 percent recyclable, and weighs in 95 percent lighter than most traditional product packaging.
A SOLID EFFORT From ideation to concept, DEW Mighty live and breathe sustainability. The brand’s baseline product is a solidified serum bar that is designed to eliminate and replace several different beauty items in its single concentrated form. By so doing, the company seeks to eliminate waste in an industry that is otherwise saturated with plastics. “It starts with sourcing and notifying all of our suppliers about packaging and reviewing it prior to the purchasing of raw materials, all the way to creation in product development,” Buzatto tells us. “You can’t avoid shipping, but you can avoid the materials that you put in there and the products in samples that might not be used which could be used somewhere else.” Each order is analyzed through a carbon offset calculator, funding reforestation to compensate for the emissions from each package delivered as it continually strives for carbon neutrality based on resource consumption and the company’s dayto-day operations. At the manufacturing stage, DEW Mighty’s product is batched in such a way that the number of units is always monitored, and the company will still sell any imperfect products. “Everything is audited and looked to be reused if it cannot be recycled,” Buzatto explains. DEW Mighty’s native setting of Hermosa Beach provides the perfect backdrop for the brand to thrive, with a growing number of refilleries cropping up on the local retail scene. California is also home to progressive climate change action legislation, involving strict adherence to recycling that prohibits items with a low recyclable North America Outlook issue 06 | 15
DEW MIGHTY
“OUR VISION IS TO EVENTUALLY MAKE THE IDEA THAT YOU SHOULD EVER HAVE TO THROW SOMETHING AWAY, OBSOLETE” - TIFFANY BUZATTO, FOUNDER AND CREATOR, DEW MIGHTY rate from being manufactured with the designated recycling logo. “I have a lot of hope that the legislation to come will be eye opening and change habits all the way down to the consumer level.” Alongside the structural obstacles that impede truly driving a green transformation across the wider North American retail landscape, Buzatto identifies the need for a “flip in consumer psychology”, that is gradually evolving thanks to a growing awareness and education 16 | North America Outlook issue 06
within environmental matters. “Consumers are always looking for convenience in our lives, judging whether or not we’ve ‘made it’ by the amount of things that we own, whereas we need to focus instead on purchasing fewer, quality items that stand the test of time,” she comments. “There is a general disregard about just how much we consume. In North America, what we have in resources per capita is on average eight times greater compared to other countries in the world.”
PURPOSE BEYOND PROFIT For DEW Mighty, supply chain operations are accompanied with the struggle of sourcing partners who comply with and mirror the company’s own laudable environmental commitments, dealing with packaging companies who are accustomed to making money based on the performance of sales and often reluctant to pursue alternate avenues, particularly with a refillable product. In this regard, Buzatto occupies a staunch position on ethics and morals
RETAIL
when it comes to vetting suppliers and their choice of packaging. “I push on to suppliers an uncompromising approach when it comes to reviewing materials for packaging. That can cause difficulties, asking them to get to the pack out process before even placing an order – but we have to be very clear that we won’t be using poly bags and that we’re only to go wrap using biodegradable materials and are willing to pay more for those options.” With strict adherence to such principles, patience is key in building a business in alignment with core values. “We have two amazing products right now that we are waiting to launch on, purely because of the components and materials. But we’re willing to wait in order to get to the item that is going to uphold
our standard. That’s part of why we self-fund and don’t have investors that require us to compromise in those areas,” Buzatto tells us. For Buzatto, DEW Mighty is willing to shoulder these increased overheads, since there is arguably no
cost greater to the brand, than that of compromise. In the fast-moving retail space, where companies are continually evolving to keep pace with the higher pressure on sustainability expectations, Buzatto advocates a slower approach to drive a lasting change. “I would advise others not to rush to market to make money – rather try to thoughtfully curate something that solves a problem for the longterm,” she says. “We don’t look to make small incremental changes by making decisions based on what people will consume. Instead, we create true innovation in a way that can only work in a holistic nature by establishing a whole brand in a format that never existed before, that follows a sustainability mantra.” North America Outlook issue 06 | 17
TOPICAL FOCUS
BUSINESS IN THE AGE OF SOCIAL Unpacking the concept of CSR and the benefits of demonstrating a responsible stance for businesses in an era of social and environmental consciousness Writer: Phoebe Harper
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oday, enterprises are keenly expected to have Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments firmly embedded into their corporate mandates. Although there is no official US law requiring organizations to allocate a portion of their income to CSR, a plethora of regulations exist that are designed to compel the implementation of such practices; whether that’s adopting a proactive 18 | North America Outlook issue 06
role in social welfare or taking a stance on environmental sustainability. The most pressing CSR issues that organizations and companies are expected to respond to include relations amongst employees and local communities, environmental management, responsible sourcing, labor standards and gender balance, to anti-corruption and human rights to name just a few. In the modern world of business,
value-driven consumers are calling for full transparency, particularly from corporate giants. In 2011, a report published by the Harvard Business School found that less than 20 percent of S&P 500 companies reported on efforts relating to CSR and sustainability. In 2019, that figure jumped to 90 percent. Consequently, those corporate giants and iconic names in industry entail some truly laudable commitments. Google is one of the biggest names in terms of environmental CSR achievements, as last year the tech and software icon successfully neutralized its entire legacy carbon footprint since the company was founded in 1998. This officially made Google the first major organization to achieve carbon neutrality for its whole operational history.
SUSTAINABILITY On the social side of the CSR coin – although in today’s world the wellbeing of our planet can only be seen as intrinsically linked to the ongoing welfare of its people – Microsoft frequently reports and attains notable achievements in charitable donations and furthering its technological reach for social development. In the fiscal year 2020, the company provided $1.9 billion in donated or discounted products to aid over 240,000 non-profits to better service their communities, most notably over the course of the pandemic. In this environment, a direct correlation between the level of social engagement that a company upholds, and revenue is becoming increasingly apparent. Indeed, in the landscape where we expect a display of social and environmental consciousness, the degree to which a company demonstrates this carries the power to influence purchasing behavior. An Ipsos poll conducted in 2021 entitled ‘Understanding Society’, found that two in five Americans either choose to regularly support a business on whose social stance they agree with – particularly in response to political and environmental matters, or do not support a business that they disagree with on a regular basis. Consequently, what originated as a matter of moral obligation is quickly becoming a case of profit versus loss. Alongside products and services, businesses are cottoning on to the marketability of selling values and virtues in terms of identifying the profitability in ethics. A study conducted by researchers at the Indiana University Georgia Institute of Technology identified five different modes of CSR practices adopted by companies to minimize a negative impact on society and the environment with a specific link to brand sales data analyzing the
success of the varying approaches. The ‘five C’s’ range from correcting business operations by making changes, to cultivating goodwill through philanthropic acts not necessarily related to the business’ operations. Both corrective and
WHAT IS CSR? The United Nations Industrial Development Organization defines CSR as a management concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders. The same organization identifies the ‘Triple-BottomLine-Approach’ as the balancing of economic, environmental, and social imperatives, alongside the expectations of shareholders and stakeholders.
compensatory acts were found to be the most effective, while participating brands demonstrated a drop in sales based on a cultivating style of CSR practice. This growing awareness has also given way to a burgeoning cynicism amongst consumers, critiquing the validity of organizations partaking in
commitments or causes that don’t specifically negate or reduce the societal harm caused by the company itself. Subsequently, businesses face navigating the balance between public need, and private profit. Increasingly, the consumer and stakeholders expect businesses to align on broader social values, with jobseekers more receptive to finding work in companies that advocate ethical leadership. In a country that hosts the third largest population in the world, it is the points of interpersonal engagement that define the successes, and indeed the reasoning behind CSR. This applies to the entire consumer base, and the company’s employees, with CSR playing an integral role in attracting and retaining stakeholders. Within the fabric of a company itself, a study conducted by Project ROI found that a CSR program had the potential to increase employee engagement by 7.5 percent, boosting productivity by a further 13 percent, and reducing staff turnover by 50 percent. In implementing these initiatives, organizations are increasingly leveraging technology such as Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) in order to further CSR goals; utilizing functions such as improving facilities to reduce carbon footprints, efficient energy and waste management, and achieving compliance to maintain safe work environments. Whether it pertains to a focus on compliance, or prioritizing sustainability, the businesses of today are encouraged to exceed beyond the remit of the services or products they provide, and observe a cognizance and acknowledgement of environmental and social stewardship in recognition of their wide-reaching impact. By so doing, a company can only increase in relevance, competitiveness, and profitability. North America Outlook issue 06 | 19
Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world. NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK is a digital and print product aimed at boardroom and hands-on decision-makers across a wide range of industries on the continent. With content compiled by our experienced editorial team complemented by an in-house design team, the resultant Outlook Creative Services department ensures delivery to the highest standards in promoting the latest in engaging news, industry trends and success stories across the length and breadth of the US & Canada. As a bi-monthly publication, North America Outlook constantly has its finger on the pulse of the latest trends, biggest developments and business successes from each corner of the region, epitomised by the diversity displayed across each magazine. It incorporates an annual calendar-tailored front-of-book section, a showcasing segment dedicated to the most fascinating success stories in North America, and an event focus assortment sure to fill executives’ diaries throughout the year. The aligning North America Outlook website is also honed and ready to serve as a host for these facets and much more. To get involved, please contact Outlook Publishing’s Managing Director, James Mitchell, who can provide further details on how to feature your company, for FREE, in one of our upcoming editions.
FA R E Y E | T R I U M P H PAY WYNRIGHT CORPORATION
w w w. n o r t h a m e r i c a o u t l o o k m a g . c o m
SUPPLY CHAIN
Issue 06
FREE Marke
KBR LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY
The solutions provider powering progress with a unique company culture
MASTERS OF MATERIAL HANDLING
Technological endeavors guided by innovation and adaptation
Operating beneath the banner of Daifuku North America, we talk to Cory Flemings, Executive Vice President of Sales at Wynright Corporation, the leading provider of automated logistics systems
THE MASTERS OF MATERIAL HANDLING Operating beneath the banner of Daifuku North America, we talk to Cory Flemings, Executive Vice President of Sales at Wynright Corporation, about the company supplying solutions in the material handling industry Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Tom Cullum
2 | North America Outlook issue 06
I
f the vast impact of COVID-19 has shown us anything, it is that the supply chain is critical to the continued fluid function of our daily lives, whether that’s receiving goods for domestic living, the office, or keeping businesses running day to day and month to month. Each aspect of the supply chain,
from production and shipping to material handling, has become pronounced in the past two years not only due to the pandemic (albeit COVID-19 playing a large part in it), but also the increasingly technological development of countries around the globe. Broader access to technology and the resulting rise in online
ti
Opportu ng nity
consumerism has seen an absolute boom in home deliveries ranging from food to clothing and kitchenware. And the gears behind such a vast wheel of industry are these aspects of the supply chain, each of which plays a core role in getting a product from initial production to end-user in the smoothest and fastest way possible. North America Outlook issue 06 | 3
JAMES MCINTYRE, Managing Director at Melcar Group, tells us of the company’s beginnings with “a sledgehammer and a vision”
www.northamericaoutlookmag.com/work-with-us
WYNRIGHT CORPORATION
THE MASTERS OF MATERIAL HANDLING Operating beneath the banner of Daifuku North America, we talk to Cory Flemings, Executive Vice President of Sales at Wynright Corporation, about the company supplying solutions in the material handling industry Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Tom Cullum
22 | North America Outlook issue 06
SUPPLY CHAIN
I
f the vast impact of COVID-19 has shown us anything, it is that the supply chain is critical to the continued fluid function of our daily lives, whether that’s receiving goods for domestic living, the office, or keeping businesses running day to day and month to month. Each aspect of the supply chain,
from production and shipping to material handling, has become pronounced in the past two years not only due to the pandemic (albeit COVID-19 playing a large part in it), but also the increasingly technological development of countries around the globe. Broader access to technology and the resulting rise in online
consumerism has seen an absolute boom in home deliveries ranging from food to clothing and kitchenware. And the gears behind such a vast wheel of industry are these aspects of the supply chain, each of which plays a core role in getting a product from initial production to end-user in the smoothest and fastest way possible. North America Outlook issue 06 | 23
WYNRIGHT CORPORATION SUPPLYING NORTH AMERICAN SOLUTIONS Operating as a key player within the space, Wynright Corporation, a Daifuku group company, is a leading provider of intelligent material handling systems for clients across the US. “According to Modor intelligence reports, the North America automated material handling market was valued at USD 9.862 billion in 2020 and is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 7.73 percent through 2026,” begins Cory Flemings, Executive Vice President of Sales at the company. “The US is the driving force in North America growth as many
AT A GLANCE DAIFUKU Daifuku is a global name and brand. With corporate headquarters based in Japan, Daifuku currently has affiliate companies and offices operating in 26 countries and regions and is a unified group contributing to the development of society. Daifuku is a global leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing, installation and service of innovative material handling technology such as automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), conveyors, automobile production line systems, baggage handling systems, cleanroom systems and operations and maintenance services. Daifuku North America specializes in integrated systems used in a variety of industries, including automotive, airport, semiconductor, flat panel display, food and beverage, warehousing and manufacturing.
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organizations are analyzing their goods to market strategies. “COVID-19 shutdowns negatively impacted many businesses, but it amplified the adaptation of e-commerce online shopping and brought to light consumer demand and behavioral changes, as well as purchasing patterns. Beyond COVID-19, the e-commerce sector will continue to grow due mainly to urbanization, the desire for convenience and an instant gratification ‘I need it now’ mentality. As a result, digitized omnichannel business models requiring automation and smart, flexible warehouse solutions are the new normal.” The COVID-19 shutdowns of many businesses also highlighted the industry’s reliance on manual labor. According to an AMH market report, around 80 percent of the warehouses in the United States are manually operated, 15 percent are mechanized, and only five percent are fully automated. “Distribution centers are now expected to support increases in fulfilment volume consisting of more frequent and smaller orders with the same or less labor.” Flemings explains. “This factor alone creates a justification case for process automation; but it
cuts deeper than this. “Within this booming environment, employment rates are declining, while new e-commerce centers provide prime wage rates leaving many traditional distribution centers with labor shortages. This is putting a real squeeze on operations costs. Where we used to see a requirement of a two-year ROI for automation, companies are now willing to accept four to five years because they need less dependence upon labor. The inability to get labor could put them out of business.” Wynright is a wholly owned subsidiary of Daifuku North America, and designs, manufactures, integrates and installs a full spectrum of intralogistics solutions, offering both Wynright-branded and third-party equipment to meet the needs of clients that span the US. “Daifuku is the world’s largest material handling system supplier, as rated by Modern Material Handling, for the seventh consecutive year,” Flemings informs us. “We have a global network within 26 countries of offices and subsidiaries that offer design, engineering, sales, installation and commissioning of automated storage and materials handling solutions in all major markets.
Wynright – A Partner for Success
F
ounded in 2018, we are a young burgeoning company built on the decades of knowledge and experience of our most trusted team members. Over the course of the last three years, we have worked to build a strong partnership with the #1 ranked material handling provider in the world – Daifuku Wynright. Wynright recently awarded us with Walmart’s entire 2022 ACL Program after having completed the Mechanical Portion of the 2020 Walmart ACL program flawlessly as well currently being key partners in the successful completion of the 2021 Walmart ACL Program. Wynright’s impeccable team demands the utmost in Safety and Quality. We would like to thank Wynright for providing us the opportunity to uphold their standards as we work together to push those standards ever higher.
Who We Are We specialize in the mechanical and electrical installation and commissioning of automated material-handling equipment, ranging from simple gravity roller conveyor to high-tech sortation and retrieval systems. Our group’s primary goal is to turn over systems that are optimized to perform at, or above, expectations for years to come. We achieve this by cultivating the most knowledgeable and experienced personnel in the industry. These individuals, coupled with the most exacting
Reach us any time
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standards of any company in our field, allow us to provide you with the highest quality installations available in today’s market. We work closely with all levels of your team to provide systems with optimized functionality, turned over ahead of schedule. By incentivizing all levels in our organization, to prioritize safety and quality above all else, we are able to maintain these exacting standards, while also maintaining competitive pricing. Our expertise in the commissioning of new systems perfectly enables us to provide quality service work. Our personnel are trained to make systems run optimally, from how well a specific sprocket is aligned to how well the system, as a whole, is processing material. Our knowledgeable personnel are ideally suited to augment your service team or take on entire service projects. From servicing a single gearbox to full-blown retrofits of dated internals, our personnel will help your company perform the service that your customers require. As a result of our team members’ backgrounds in service and installation, we have accrued the knowledge and expertise to be able to identify and correct equipment issues expediently. More importantly we have the ability to learn each and every facet of your system, enabling us to provide and execute precise preventative maintenance plans. The GIG is here to ensure your product keeps flowing at full rate.
T +1 (888) 908-4978
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www.thegigllc.com
WYNRIGHT CORPORATION “Not only are we the largest, but we have also been in the industry for 84 years and bring our reliability and expertise to every solution we develop.” Daifuku’s ‘total solution experience’ includes consulting, planning, design, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, along with upgrading and retrofitting. The company offers its customers everything within the material handling value chain, ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) based palletizing simulation all the way to the robots necessary to move boxes from locations A to B. “Unlike many of our competitors we produce all key automated technology in-house: AS/RS, AGVs, Conveyors, sortation, robotics, directed fulfilment, and WCS/WES software,” Fleming explains. “We
A HISTORY OF SERVICE Since its foundation in 1937, Daifuku has led the material handling industry for over 80 years. Daifuku has continuously developed and introduced various innovative products. The company strives to take up challenges to provide products and services that benefits society. To further their global presence in North America, Daifuku acquired Wynright Corporation. Wyrnight’s conveyor, sortation, robotics, selection, and structural product offerings, along with industry expertise and values provided excellent synergy with Daifuku’s material handling solutions. Since joining the Daifuku Group in 2014, Wynright has successfully merged visions, expanded their
provide solutions for numerous industries across the globe, and in today’s market we see much of our activity in the retail and e-commerce sector. “Other industries we see utilizing automated material handling include pharmaceutical and healthcare, food and beverage, electronics and machinery, logistics services, automated freezers, and even automated, indoor vertical agriculture.” Daifuku has over 11,000 employees, a revenue of $4.5 billion as of the company’s 2020 financial year. Collectively, the company puts around two percent of sales back into R&D for the betterment of the business and its services for the future. “In the US we have had a presence for over 45 years” Flemings continues.
presence, and localized various Daifuku solutions into the North American market. Wynright Key Actions: • Wynright acquired by the Daifuku Group (2014) • Wynright localizes Daifuku High Speed Sliding Shoe Sorter in US (2015) • New Innovation Center launched (2017) Wynright launches RSS Program (Resident Service & Support) (2018) • Daifuku Intralogistics North America Works, manufacturing plant, operational (2019) • Daifuku Goods to Person technology localized to North America (2020)
Kelso-Burnett Co. Kelso-Burnett is an employee-owned electrical contractor with over 100 years of experience. Throughout the years, Kelso-Burnett has strategically advanced to meet the needs of clients and the evolution of the construction industry. Key partnerships and affiliations, technological advancements, and the shift to employee ownership have empowered Kelso-Burnett to successfully complete projects and provide innovative solutions. Kelso-Burnett is a pivotal piece of an affiliation of companies, Newport Industries, that provide electrical, low voltage, fire safety, and engineering services in the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin area. This incorporation has allowed KelsoBurnett and the affiliate companies to expand their services offered and their geographical reach without comprising on quality. Since 1962, Kelso-Burnett has been an active partner of the Federated Electrical Contractors (FEC) group which contains more than 25 industry leading electrical contractors across North America and other select international locations. FEC partners cooperate on projects, share learnings, discuss industry trends, and help optimize existing processes and technologies across the electrical construction industry. The FEC empowers Kelso-Burnett to complete integrated conveyor system projects and other projects across the United States using strategic partnerships. Employee ownership of KelsoBurnett is an intangible force that holds leadership and employees accountable for completing quality work and drives company-wide cooperation. All employees are inherently interested in the success of Kelso-Burnett, making it one of the nation’s leading electrical contractors.
• Designed and integrated the largest high bay warehouse in North America (IKEA) kelso-burnett.com
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Leading Electrical Contractor Since 1908
Integrated Conveyor Systems Kelso-Burnett has the network, expertise, and experience to install material handling and integrated conveyor systems across the United States. Project Experience
United Parcel Service (UPS) - Addison, IL - Lenexa, KS FedEx - Chandler, AZ - Bedford Park, IL - Las Vegas, NV - Maple Grove, MN - Indianapolis, IN - Columbus, OH Amazon - University Park, IL - Jefferson, GA - Oklahoma City, OK - Memphis, TN - Minneapolis, MN - Wilmer, TX
Distribution Centers - Harbor Freight Tools - O’Reilly Auto Parts - Walgreens - Other Big Box Retailers
Other Markets Served
- Commercial - Industrial - Healthcare - Energy Solutions - Institutional - Data Centers - Tenant Interiors - Hospitality - High-Rise Residential - Agricultural Cultivation - Facilities - Gaming & Entertainment
5200 Newport Dive, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008, United States Vice President & Branch Manager - Kevin O’Malley E: komalley@kelso-burnett.com | P: (847) 483-3841 W: kelso-burnett.com
WYNRIGHT CORPORATION
SICK SICK is one of the world’s leading suppliers that integrators and OEMs, like Daifuku Wynright Corporation, trust for intelligent sensor technology solutions. As a global provider of industrial automation solutions, SICK sensors optimize material handling applications not only to improve operational performance but to keep costs minimized for production facilities. Many know SICK for its logistics automation solutions, like scan tunnels for identification applications when code reading is needed, but it is also one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sensors, safety systems, machine vision, emissions monitoring systems, flow measurement, and encoders. Additionally, SICK is a trusted partner in robotics applications requiring vision systems, safety systems, and other sensors. Intelligent sensor solutions from SICK enhance mobile and stationary robotic applications.
MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEM INTEGRATION Wynright’s material handling systems integration capabilities extend from facility design to system engineering, controls engineering, and integration. The company has extensive experience with the latest technologies in storage, conveyor and sortation systems, automated systems and order fulfilment and processing systems. This includes: • Facility design and application engineering • Storage systems and pick modules • Order fulfillment systems • Conveyor systems • Automated systems • Safety audits • Upgrades of existing equipment
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“We currently have over 600 service and support engineers and technicians, offer an exceptional client asset management program, and our software and manufacturing are all US based. “We are the largest material handling company, but this is not the only reason we stand apart in the industry. These reasons are numerous but include many aspects and values that are core and classic to Daifuku. Trust, experience, risk mitigation, in house production, Japanese quality, the fact that we have over a 99.9 percent system accuracy capability, equipment rated for cold storage usage, our designs, and our exceptional service are some that come to mind. “We stand behind our solutions and follow our words with actions, or as some would say, we ‘walk the talk’.”
With Smart Data Solutions, customers receive support on the journey to implementing smart logistics processes. This includes installed base services, asset manager, condition monitoring, and predictive services. With these services, data analysis can be run to make intelligent decisions based on the data to optimize processes. This helps to increase throughput, availability, and productivity and bring existing systems into the digital transformation age. Industry experts regard SICK as the market leader for helping transform the logistics automation industry through innovative solutions as demonstrated by more than 3,500 patents awarded. The diversity of its product line allows SICK to offer solutions at every phase of production in the logistics, automotive, packaging, electronics, food and beverage, material handling, and process automation markets
www.sick.com/gobeyond
GO BEYOND – EXPLORE NEW HORIZONS FOR YOUR INDUSTRY.
Overcome the limitations of known systems and leave the beaten path of those who follow. With SICK at your side, you are always one step ahead. Because intelligent sensor technologies enable better processes and new opportunities for your Industry 4.0 business models. Use trend-setting SensorApps, Deep Learning, and other AI applications, as well as integration and analysis solutions. Let’s go beyond together. We think that’s intelligent. www.sick.com/gobeyond
WYNRIGHT CORPORATION EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE Flemings joined Daifuku Wynright as Executive Vice President in July of this year. He Has worked with a number of global companies in the material handling industry. “In my material handling career, I have had the honor of leading sales for the top organizations in the industry,” Flemings says. “I served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Knapp Logistics & Automation (Knapp), in Austria. From Knapp I transitioned to Executive Sales Manager for Schaefer Systems International in Germany and following this I co-founded ABCO Automation, an automated systems company that focused on intralogistics systems for the US, Saudi Arabian, and Mexican markets. “Most recently, I was the Global Sales Director for JBT Corporation’s automated guided vehicle division. In June, I joined Wynright as the Executive Vice President of Sales. I am
very proud to be a part of the world’s largest automated, materials-handling system provider that has held that position for seven years.” Flemings’ diverse background and broad sales expertise across complex global organizations has enabled him to lead the charge in solidifying Wynright as the premier solutions provider in the North American region. And now, for Flemings, he is challenged not only to transform Wynright to respond to its customers in the new post-COVID-19 automation market, but to proactively partner with key Wynright accounts to develop relationships and design data-driven automation solutions helping his customers to prosper.
STREAMLINING OPERATIONS With regard to this aspiration to increase its technological capacity, Daifuku announced its three-year business plan, “Value Transformation
2023.” One of the goals laid out in the plan is the provision of logistic systems that support the digitalization sought by the company’s customers. “Digitization of a warehouse is flexible and may be partially- or fullyautomated,” Flemings explains. “The degree of automation is dependent upon what is driving the customer’s business needs and their appetite for automation. Three things are always in tension with one another: the combination of building space (ft2), labor (FTEs) and capital for automation equipment ($). These three can generate low- medium or high-levels of automation all with the same ROI payback period. We collaborate with our customers to develop custom solutions comfortably meeting their specific needs.” Some examples are as follows: Wynright’s systems can address tedious manual activities through
Integrated Manufacturing Systems IMS was established in November of 1998 in a small rural town of Portland, Tennessee in the USA. From its inception, the emphasis was placed on two principles, a) technically producing quality products for various types of industries including automotives, electronics, material-handling, construction, etc. and, b) economically, observing and placing reasonable limits on our growth in order to prevent layoffs and inactivity and to retain good employees and to boost their morale. As only good and loyal employees are capable of producing good quality products to make and keep our customers happy and therefore, guaranteeing the longevity of the business!
info@imsonweb.com
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SPIRAL CONVEYING STRAIGHT UP
Integrated Manufacturing Systems (aka IMS) is a precision metal fabrication company with the corporate headquarters located in Portland, Tennessee. Portland is approximately 25 miles Northeast of Nashville. Nashville is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, Tennessee in the north-central part of the state. Our metal fabrication capabilities include, but not limited to, Saw Cutting, Press Brake Forming, Sheet/Plate Shearing, LASER AND Plasma-cutting, MIG/TIG Welding, Robotic Welding, Painting, in-shop Hardware Installation & Assembly. Although over 95% of our products happen to be made of mild steel, we are capable of processing and have fabricated parts from Stainless Steel, Aluminum, etc. We meet the needs of our customers by combining the latest cutting edge technologies and processes with an employee/customer-focus mindset to produce exceptional competitive advantage.
Integrated MFG. Systems, LLC 306 E. Longview Drive P.O. Box 7717 Portland, Tennessee 37148-7717 USA E-Mail: info@imsonweb.com Phone: (615) 325-7775 FAX: (615) 325-7382
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WYNRIGHT CORPORATION
DARANA HYBRID One Source Will Make It Happen INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICIANS AND MILLWRIGHTS: Licensed in All 50 States and Canada Specializing in Electrical and Mechanical Installation of Machinery, Processing and Conveyor Systems. • INDUSTRIAL HEAVY RIGGING SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES • FULLY AUTOMATED CUSTOM METAL FABRICATION SERVICES • COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES • SOLAR FARM SOLUTIONS • SOLAR LIGHTING ENERGY SERVICES • TELECOM SOLUTIONS AND MANUFACTURING SERVICES
“The recovering economy is placing new demands across the supply chain, and this is creating new challenges and opportunities for warehouse and distribution center automation companies. Meeting the challenges and leveraging the opportunities requires a deep understanding of customer needs and the technology available to meet them. Cory comes to us with a multi-million-dollar track record of doing just that, all around the world” - Kevin Ambrose, CEO and President, Wynright Corporation
automation such as robotic truck loading, unloading and palletizing, and de-palletizing. Robotics are integrated with the conveyance systems enabling clients to overcome their labor challenges. “When it comes to truck loading, the loading dock in a warehouse has some of the highest worker injuryrates,” Flemings tells us. “Unloading cartons from a truck is a tiresome, repetitive, and labor-intensive task. Incorporating robotic truck unloaders 34 | North America Outlook issue 06
Darana Hybrid Has Worked With Wynright Corporation For Over 20 Years and Celebrate Our Future Projects Together !
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and automating this process increases throughput, reduces injuries, and frees up the manhour resources to be utilized for tasks really requiring human thought and interaction.” Another solution with big impact is the automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) which helps with high density storage. It eliminates the wide aisles required to maneuver a lift truck in a conventional rack system and the crane system operates in a narrow aisle, leaving more space for storage. Since these cranes can ascend to 131 feet, the cubic storage capacity of these systems can be massive and cut the footprint of the building in half, allowing the DC to get closer to populated areas because less land is required. It also allows for faster, more accurate operations, and a quieter environment. Because computers don’t often make mistakes, AS/RS systems store and retrieve products with speed and accuracy reducing
SUPPLY CHAIN
Darana Hybrid, Inc. is a Native American owned and operated company licensed in all 50 states and Canada. A certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) providing Industrial Electrical and Mechanical services in North America. A highperformance operation guided by the Native American Code of Ethics from an 800-year-old Native American legacy and tradition. All people who work together, will make the world stronger by generously sharing our collective knowledge with others. Our goal is to create unique employment opportunities for both Native American and non-native Americans, regardless of where they are in life’s journey, so every person has an opportunity to participate as a valuable member of society.
Visit us at DaranaHybrid.com info@daranahybrid.com
MBE
One SOurce -willMake it Happen
LEWCO, Inc. is a world-class industrial equipment manufacturer, focused on providing customer value, promoting the growth and well-being of our people, and ensuring the financial strength and security of our organization.
www.lewcoinc.com
Phone #: (419) 625-4014 | Fax #: (419)-625-1247 Location Address 1: 706 Lane Street Sandusky, Ohio 44870 Location Address 2: 5225 W. Lakeshore Drive, Building 460, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
North America Outlook issue 06 | 35
WYNRIGHT CORPORATION
AT A GLANCE AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS ROBOTIC PALLETIZATION AND DE-PALLETIZATION When cartons require the stacking onto a pallet or de-stacking from a pallet, one should consider robotic automation. Robotics will enable increased throughput, reduce injuries, allow better use of manual resources, and have the ability to operate 24/7 without lunch breaks! SORTING TRANSFER VEHICLE (STV) Daifuku’s Sorting Transfer Vehicle (STV®) is a fast, flexible and easily installed material transport system. STV®s can be used to move loads of all sizes in a warehouse. For example, a STV® may be used as a sorting tool for goods coming out of storage and heading to shipping. STV® features sorting and collecting capabilities for multiple AS/RS aisle conveyor stations. It enables picking by order line and sorting by destination to one location. SMALL PARTS HANDLING Robotic arms with delicate end effectors carefully pick up and precisely place small parts. Typical applications include automated assembly, kit building, piece picking, and various manufacturing processes. VOICE AND LIGHT DIRECTED PICKING Providing outstanding efficiencies in a variety of warehouse and distribution center applications, voice and / or light directed picking is an option to improve order fulfilment for fast-moving, full and split case picking operations. These systems provide the flexibility required in the e-commerce driven environment to easily adapt to batch, cluster, wave, or dynamic picking.
inventory problems and eliminate lift truck noise levels contributing to an all-around safer work environment. Even when it comes to a process such as labeling an automation return on investment is realized. The traditional manual process by which a worker would label a product, such as a carton, after it has been unloaded, can be automated through print and apply technology which streamlines the process, minimizes monotonous and unnecessary work for employees, and at the same time eliminates the chance for human error.
PROMOTING GREEN OPERATION In the green sphere, Daifuku is taking multiple steps to actively 36 | North America Outlook issue 06
pursue environmental practices. For Wynright, sustainability works best as part of a comprehensive business strategy, and that’s why the company is committed to developing products, systems and solutions that support your commitment to energy conservation and sustainability. For example, Wynright provides systems that reduce sound levels, extend equipment life, lower maintenance requirements, and reduce energy consumption through run-on-demand technology. “These steps cover multiple actions that are aimed at improving our operations,” Flemings says. “We aim to enhance the competitive advantage of our customers while at the same time contribute to the
TRI-R EXPERT MATERIAL HANDLING INSTALLATION & RESOURCES With 40+ years in the industry, our family-owned business has over 40,000 jobs under our belts, while maintaining an EMR rating of .73. We bring full-service solutions for storage rack and automated retrieval systems, professional installation, and additional resources that take your project from concept to completion. • Customized Engineering • Project Management • Permitting We stand ready to bring you today’s innovations and help navigate your warehouse into tomorrow. Contact us for a complimentary consult today.
T: 281-353-RACK (7225) www.trir.co
Prolann Group Prolann is a mechanical engineering partner of Wynright & becomes an extension of their engineering team to deliver concepts, installation design & detail drawings. Prolann has assisted Wynright on numerous & various projects from concept development & conveyor modifications to complete system detailed projects. Drawings include conveyors & equipment, structures, support steel, KIP loads with beam sizing, platforms, catwalks & access c/w BOM’s. Our drawings match Wynright’s drawing standards & styles. Prolann coordinates with Wynright’s engineering team to complete projects in the parcel industry, DC’s & airports.
E: sales@prolann.com www.prolann.com
SUPPLY CHAIN
TRI-R
All Rack Systems
GE STORA
Mobile Aisle Systems Automated Storage & Retrieval System (ASRS)
RA C
S EM Y ST KS
Carton & Pallet Flow Mezzanines Pick Modules
30 Years 1992 - 2022
INFO@TRIR.CO
Headquarters: 3535 North Service Road E., Windsor, ON N8W 5R7 Sales Office: 570 Kirts Blvd., Suite 205, Troy, MI 48084
T: 519-944-7824 | E: sales@prolann.com | W: www.prolann.com PROLANN, a specialized mechanical engineering firm provides fabrication & field installation drawings to OEM’s & integrators. Years of experience and expertise in various conveyor systems gives us a distinct advantage & understanding of the specific needs of our clients. Prolann has emerged to become one of North America’s top material handling engineering solutions providers. Our team, comprised of mechanical engineers, designers and managers with specialized knowledge & experience in the courier, baggage and automotive material handling industries. From initial concept development to final installation drawings with designs & details. Prolann works every step to ensure key aspects of cost, ease of maintenance, space utilization, safety and durability are integrated into every project.
Courier Systems Prolann understands the intricate complexities & challenges of parcel, post and DC systems for manual or automated sorts. Prolann knows the standards & specifications for parcel & post delivery companies. Working as an extension of your team, we develop bid packages, concepts, plans with designs & details for your sort systems including installation layouts, fabrication drawings and support details. The end result? Complete execution of your project’s delivery & delivery of that which you, deliver to your customer. Prolann works seamlessly with or as your engineering team.
Baggage Handling Systems Working closely with OEM’s, airports and airport architects, Prolann develops 3D concepts and detailed installation drawings based on approved ideas, baggage flow & throughput and our clients specific standards and requirements. Automotive Conveyor Systems For three decades, we have provided designed & detailed solutions for some of the biggest names in the auto industry. Working directly with assembly and manufacturing plants and their OEM’s for all conveyor layouts, installations & design details.
North America Outlook issue 06 | 37
WYNRIGHT CORPORATION
Talos What started as a small company rooted in the heart of Lewisburg, Tennessee, has now become a thriving company with the heart of serving others as their mission. Talos Engineered Products is a leading manufacturer of pre-engineered and custom-engineered unit handling conveyor equipment and accessories. For over 35 years, Talos has been providing quality components for many systems across the globe in industries such as Parcel Handling, Baggage Handling and Retail. As a result, Talos undertakes all their work with their diligent and dedicated employees along with companyowned and operated equipment.
advancement of the community and society, and we strive to further our corporate governance structure through sustainability initiatives. “Wynright is constantly pursuing six individual initiatives in this respect as well as adhering to the Daifuku Environmental Vision 2050 to enable us to help preserve the environment.” These aforementioned initiatives envelop aspects such as high efficiency lighting, energy-efficient welding processes, the recycling of materials like metals and paper, and choosing green vendors when it comes to waste disposal and much more. Under Daifuku, Wynright goes beyond the standard efforts made to promote sustainability.
QUALITY AND SAFETY Wynright strives to establish the highest industry standards for quality and customer service. Continuous improvement is considered an important facet of the company, and meetings are held between company manufacturing facilities and corporate offices in this respect. The meetings emphasize teamwork and allow ideas to be leveraged by all participants. 38 | North America Outlook issue 06
Wynright is even more dedicated to providing its employees and others associated with a safe working environment in company plants and offices, as well as on all job sites. Safety is the most important value, as well as an integral part of quality control and job efficiency. This year Daifuku North America launched a new campaign, ‘Safety Matters’, to strive for a zero-accident culture by identifying potential hazards, as well as watching out for team members and integrating safety into its overall daily decisions. “Safety stands as a driving factor in the development of all of Wynright’s products, and we conform to OSHA and ASME standards for all of our manufactured products,” Flemings informs us. “Wynright goes to great lengths to incorporate safety precautions within the design and construction of our equipment. Whenever a potential safety problem cannot be eliminated in the design stages of the equipment, we are careful to include proper guarding against potential mishaps. Emergency stops, guard rails, netting, chain guards, and warning labels are
talosengineeredproducts.com
Unitech Systems A great experience collaborating with Wynright on a successful project in Ontario.
Calgary, AB. 403-259-7420 www.unitechsystems.com
SUPPLY CHAIN
Your complete solution for material handling installation services.
Unitech Systems. Calgary AB. 403 259-7420
www.unitechsystems.com
North America Outlook issue 06 | 39
WYNRIGHT CORPORATION
WIPOTEC Often referred to as a “triple scale,” WIPOTEC-OCS’ HC-FL-T Catchweigher combines three hardware and three virtual scales into six scales. Each scale is capable of operating independently allowing product gaps as short as 10” (254 mm).
NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WYNRIGHT’S TEAM AND YOUR SUBSEQUENT MANAGEMENT STYLE? Cory Flemings, Executive Vice President of Sales: “My team has a tremendous amount of industry knowledge and systems expertise. They are seasoned executives that value customer relationships. “I am not a tricky when it comes to customers. I always strive to be honest and transparent and expect our people to be the same. One of our company’s compass points is to ‘do the right thing,’ even when it is difficult, especially when people are asking sharp, to-the-point questions. Be honest and be direct. I value team and try to lead like King Arthur, not Douglas MacArthur. The Knights of the Round Table knew who the king was, so King Arthur didn’t have to exert his power over them. I like to push decisionmaking power and authority down as far as possible in an organization to macro-manage, not micro-manage. I have found that people appreciate this and will rise to the occasion. I strive to ensure there is consistency between my words and my actions, engaging and empowering my team to be innovative and take initiative. I want them to be comfortable enough to step up, be creative, and get things done. “I have found that true empowerment comes through open communication, clarity of direction, and through supporting our professional relationships with one another, allowing them to stumble, while acknowledging and appreciating their efforts.”
representative of the types of built-in safety features provided by Wynright. “We are also serious about our client’s safety. Wynright employs a full-time dedicated corporate safety director responsible for implementing and coordinating a detailed safe plan of action with our clients on every project. Over 80 of our project managers, engineers, and installers are OSHA certified.” 40 | North America Outlook issue 06
THE YEARS AHEAD Looking further into the decade, Wynright has a multi-pronged plan with which to approach the future of the business. Expansion is a key part of this, especially within North America, to enable the mutual growth of client-partner relationships for the long-term. “Another key priority is to enable client engagement and learning,”
The triple-scale design delivers a 60% throughput increase over its double-scale predecessor, even while guaranteeing exemplary weighing precision and rugged durability. Depending on the product length, the triple scale can weigh up to three products simultaneously. The NTEP approved HC-FL-T Catchweigher can process up to 19,000 parcels per hour at transport speeds up to 670 ft/ min(3.4 m/s).
www.wipotec-ocs.com
Flemings adds. “In this area, we will focus on our North American brand messaging, update our web presence and enhance our innovation center engagement. “We will also bring our urbanized distribution center functionality and knowledge to North America and share the benefits of smaller footprint multi-level DCs, fully automated solutions, immediate order-filling, full traceability, over a 99.9 percent accuracy of operations, and in-store micro fulfilment. “This plan will see Wynright’s continued success and growth under Daifuku across the US for the long-term.”
WYNRIGHT CORPORATION Tel: (815) 905-9044 info@Wynright.com www.wynright.com
SUPPLY CHAIN
SHORTER PRODUCT GAPS SIX SCALES COMBINED IN ONE WEIGHING UNIT The HC-FL-T triple scale is certified by NTEP to deliver a weighing accuracy of 50g at transport speeds of 670 feet per minute (3.4 m/s) and process up to 19,000 packages per hour. EMFR technology and Active Vibration Compensation delivers superior weighing accuracy.
Catchweigher HC-FL-T
wipotec-ocs.com
Conveyor and package flow solutions that reduce friction, increase efficiency and decrease energy cost.
SurfaceWRX Turnkey Installation using TIVAR® DrySlide Material (Specified and engineered for the Materials Handling Industry) is solving critical sort issues nationwide!
Our Mission: Cure common costly sort problems.
Metal Fabrication • Experienced in fabrication of Steel, Stainless Steel and Aluminum
Welding • AWS Certified Welders on Staff
Finishing Various Finishes Available including: • Liquid Paint • Powder Coating • Galvanizing/Zinc Plating SurfaceWRX LLC 63 Dillan Drive, Frazer, PA 19355 Peter Schilgen pschilgen@surfacewrx.com 215-620-0787
www.surfacewrx.com
Engineering & Drafting • Shop Drawings • Engineering of Structural Products
www.mcsteelfabrication.com sales@mcsteelfabrication.com |
mc-steel-fabrication-llc
North America Outlook issue 06 | 41
TRIUMPHPAY
42 | North America Outlook issue 06
SUPPLY CHAIN When COVID-19 occurred and became a pressing issue, people across multiple industries paused, went home and re-evaluated themselves, except for truck drivers – they worked harder than ever before.” Haley Evans, Vice President of Broker Services at TriumphPay, sums up how the past 18 months have impacted the logistics sector across the US, a microcosm of the effects of the virus on supply chain operations internationally. Based in and operating across the US and in Canada, TriumphPay is a
FORWARD-THINKING
FINANCE We take a look at TriumphPay and talk to Haley Evans, Vice President of Broker Services, about the company’s business acquisition and financial solutions in the logistics space Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Tom Cullum
nationally renowned carrier payment platform that connects brokers, shippers, factors and carriers through forward-thinking solutions that helps parties successfully process, settle and manage carrier payments and drive business growth. TriumphPay offers supply chain finance to brokers and shippers, allowing them to pay their carriers faster and drive carrier loyalty, and provides the tools and services necessary to increase automation, mitigate fraud, create back-office efficiency and improve the payment experience. “The demand for consumer goods and staple items has skyrocketed over the pandemic period. It was not uncommon to see stores run out of stock,” Evans continues. “Because of this, there has been great pressure on shippers and carriers to restock the stores, and the logistics space became the forefront of keeping the country going. “We made sure to support drivers on the road and worked in conjunction with carrier groups to make sure they had what they needed.” North America Outlook issue 06 | 43
Experience BrokerPro Robust Intuitive Affordable
What makes BrokerPro one of the most Robust TMS solutions available? OUR FEATURES AND INTEGRATIONS Document Manager Rate Quote System LTL Infinity Posting Service WebTrack EDI Transactions SMS Messaging SaferWatch MyCarrierPackets DAT Carrier Watch DAT OnBoard DAT RateView
Truckstop RateMate PC Miler LaneMaster DAT RateView MacroPoint TruckerTools QuickBooks HubTran DocuSign SignRequest RMIS And growing…
(256) 686-2931 | sales@BrokerPro.com | BrokerPro.com
TRIUMPHPAY TRIUMPHPAY TriumphPay works with four different entities in the supply chain: shippers, brokers, factors and carriers, each of which form a chain of goods delivery with each acting as a customer to the last. Simply put, shippers are those who ship the goods to brokers, who in turn work between the former and the carriers, with carriers then moving forward to deliver the goods to the intended destination. “What we started to see were shippers pushing out payment terms due to a tight cash flow,” Evans tells us. “Where ideally a carrier gets paid by a broker in 30 days, and ideally
the broker receives payment from a shipper in 30 days – making the cash flow neutral – shippers extended their payment terms from 30 to 60 days, leaving brokers to be cash flow negative. “So here is where we really stepped in. In addition to the existing QuickPay program that allows carriers to get paid on day one and brokers to pay us on day 30, we came up with a couple of different products to help both the brokers and carriers, each of which are our customers, further bridge the gap in cash flow. We make sure the carriers are still getting paid within those 30 days but at the same
time give brokers access to additional financing options so that they are still able to run their business and that they are not feeling that cash crunch from the negative.” This facilitation of logistical operations is the epitome of TriumphPay’s overall mission and is a prime example of the company’s aims to provide its customers a premier payment experience, business growth and reduced risk.
AN EDGE IN THE MARKET This company mission has been achievable through TriumphPay’s recent acquisition of HubTran,
AT A GLANCE TRIUMPHPAY PAYMENT SOLUTIONS BROKERS TriumphPay makes things simple so you can streamline your back office and use its balance sheet to help your business grow. CARRIERS You are given the freedom you want to manage your invoices and payments on the road. SHIPPERS Have complete visibility and reporting into every detail of your transportation spend with TriumphPay’s freight audit integration. FACTORS Enjoy a wider view into the market as well as cost reduction, risk mitigation and improved speed of service.
46 | North America Outlook issue 06
What makes BrokerPro better than other TMS products available on the market? What differentiates the BrokerPro software from the competition?
Having grown up in the trucking industry, Joe McAlpin, President and CEO of Infinity Software Solutions, has experienced first-hand the explosive transformation of transportation and technology over the last 20 years. With the release of our first desktop TMS in 1999, BrokerPlus, we learned very quickly that the path to success was to offer users the tools they need to provide the high level of service their shippers expect. Significant technology advancements have presented us with the ability to create a much more robust TMS that can be accessed by any device, anytime, anywhere. Integrating with other key service providers in our industry such as HubTran, DAT, SaferWatch and many more has been vital to not
only that goal, but the strong growth we have experienced over the last few years. As we continue to build our customer base, we listen to both existing and prospective customers to monitor the pulse of the market. Our main focus is to listen to what they have to say. They drive our development strategy, not a single person or a board of directors. The ability to leverage over 20 integration tools without leaving the software is a gamechanger and heavily utilized by our end users. We intentionally focused on making BrokerPro intuitive and user-friendly while keeping it affordable. One of our most recognizable and beneficial integration partners is HubTran.
HubTran automates the daily back-office workflow that frees up employees to be more productive in other areas. This simple integration takes less than 15 minutes to set up and training is seamless. Subscribing to their service not only makes sense but it also saves 3PLs time and money. At Infinity Software, our ultimate success lies in the success of our clients. We’re constantly evolving to provide solutions to meet the needs of our users while also improving their bottom line.
Find and Follow us on our Social Media sites and BrokerPro.com
(256) 686-2931
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sales@BrokerPro.com
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BrokerPro.com
TRIUMPHPAY
NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK: CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU CAME TO WORK FOR TRIUMPHPAY? Haley Evans, Vice President of Broker Services: “After working in the financial sphere, I realized that my interests lay in the area of technology. “After one of my friends started up a Fintech company, I learnt to code in order to help them and ended up really enjoying the space. This in turn led me to go and gain a master’s degree in business to transition to the Fintech sector full-time. While gaining the degree, I learnt about TriumphPay through my work network and took the opportunity to apply for an interview. “Working for the company sounded ideal and extremely interesting so I agreed, and I have been working for them ever since. TriumphPay has expanded from 12 employees when I started in 2019 to over 100 currently, and we have grown from around $200 million in annual payment volume to $16.8 billion in annual carrier payments, making us the largest payer in broker freight – it has been quite the journey.”
48 | North America Outlook issue 06
a business that specialized in automating repeatable and costly logistics operation tasks. Through utilizing HubTran’s services, TriumphPay has had the opportunity to merge the products of each entity into something more. “Previously we had two customer groups: brokers and carriers, and each would operate independently when it came to invoicing and payments,” Evans continues. “With HubTran, we are able to expedite invoice audit and payment and additionally create a conforming transaction between brokers, carriers and factors to streamline the process and make it more efficient so these groups could focus on their core business rather than administrative tasks. Rather than sending paperwork back and forth to each other and following up with phone calls and emails, this information can be processed electronically among parties in the payments network.” Yet the acquisition - and subsequent utilization - of HubTran’s offers is not the only factor contributing towards TriumphPay’s success in the logistics sector. TriumphPay operates as a division of TBK Bank, SSB, Member of FDIC and is a member of the Triumph Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: TBK) group. Triumph Bancorp is a financial holding company with a diversified line of banking, payments, and factoring services. This exists as one of TriumphPay’s many strengths, and indeed an attractive notion to clients, as Evans explains. “When it comes to processing billions of dollars, payment security and the regulations that come with them, it plays to our advantage, and indeed that of our customers, that we are owned by a publicly traded bank,” she says. “That is a really big selling point because we work with other publicly traded entities and brokers, and some of the companies that these customers have used in the past have
“TRIUMPHPAY IS LIKE HAVING AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER OF YOUR AP TEAM. BY TAKING ON PAYMENT AND CONFIRMATIONS FROM FACTORING COMPANIES ITS ALLOWED OUR AP TEAM TO PROVIDE BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND BE FAR MORE EFFICIENT” – JAMES LEMMON, CPA, SPI LOGISTICS
“WE BELIEVE THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMITMENT IS REFLECTED IN PRODUCT INNOVATION AND THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WE’VE ESTABLISHED” – TRIUMPHPAY
not had these regulations or control. “In the worst cases, some of these entities and brokers have lost millions of dollars working with unregulated companies, have issued duplicate payments to both payment agencies and the carriers due to a lack of regulation. We are able to offer a fullservice payments platform with the
SUPPLY CHAIN
“TRIUMPHPAY IS A STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR TRANSPLACE AND OUR CARRIERS. DURING THIS TIME OF MARKET DISRUPTION, TRIUMPHPAY HAS BEEN A VALUE-ADD TO OUR CARRIER COMMUNITY” – FRANK MCGUIGAN, CEO, TRANSPLACE
additional oversight and security.” Currently, TriumphPay is operating across two main areas: those of broker freight and the shipper market, each of which the company has focused on over the last two years. “Here we have made great headway and really served our customers well,” Evans adds. “And from this
conforming transaction between brokers, carriers and factors that stems from our HubTran acquisition, we will begin to focus on adding functionality that enables all parties to work more efficiently.”
EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD
early success in the Fintech sphere came down to the company’s recruitment of talented employees from the offset. “I think the early success of TriumphPay was due to recruiting amazing talent and people who had relationships in the industry and could bring those relationships to the company,” she explains. “Some individuals in TriumphPay have been working in the industry for 20 or 30 years, and this becomes incredibly valuable for a start-up. “You need people that you can trust with experience, and these employees have really helped the company pivot, transition and believe that it can achieve what it set out to do. Our passionate leadership team does whatever it takes to get things done, even if the tasks are not within their immediate job roles, to ensure the success of the business and all those who work for the company.” In this way, collaboration becomes a core aspect of TriumphPay, and this notion echoes in the company’s partnerships that it makes within the industry. “This industry is small,” Evans adds. “An important key to success that those within must remember is that relationships equal results. Whether these are on the client or partner side, working well together ensures that we all succeed as best we can in the present and moving forward. “In the years ahead, these relationships will remain a key part of our business for the benefit of the customers and businesses involved.”
Tel: (469)-312-7222 info@triumphpay.com www.triumphpay.com
According to Evans, TriumphPay’s North America Outlook issue 06 | 49
MELCAR GROUP
HITTING HOME James McIntyre, Managing Director at Melcar Group, tells us about the company’s origins with “a sledgehammer and a vision”, and how the business is moving forward to answer the demands of the market Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: David Knott
50 | North America Outlook issue 06
CONSTRUCTION
Aidan Carolan started this firm with a sledgehammer and a vision.” The words of James McIntyre, Managing Director, sums up the origin of Melcar Group (Melcar) and underpins the drive behind the company. Melcar was established in 1989 in the US. With over 32 years of vanguard experience, the company takes a global approach to the continuously evolving infrastructure
James McIntyre, Managing Director
industry. Within this space, Melcar is a driving force in underground and aerial construction, directional drilling, microtunneling and auger boring. The firm has built its unwavering reputation by undertaking the most difficult projects, providing exemplary results in a demanding industry. With extensive experience in densely populated cities. Melcar ensures that the local communities, environment, and existing infrastructure are minimally affected
Trinity Products’ Weldl We are proud to announce our newest product line, an improved weldless interlock system,
Trinity Products’ Tri-Loc.
Interlock Male
Outside Pipe View
Combining our state of art spiralweld pipe mill & our A.I.S.C. certified fabrication facilities, our Tri-Loc weldless interlock system creates a cost effective method for pipe installation while also improving job site efficiencies.
TRI-LOC DETAILS • Diameters: 24” to 120” OD • Wall Thickness: .375” – 1.50” • Custom Lengths Available • Manufactured to ASTM A252 Gr3 • Custom Coatings Available Upon Request
Give us a call today for more information about Tri-Loc!
less Interlock System Tri-Loc Case Study - Summer 2021 PROJECT:
Easley Combined Utilities - Crayton Creek Sewer LOCATION: Easley, SC
CONTRACTOR : FULLER & CO. CONSTRUCTION LLC
SCOPE: 320 LF grade guaranteed auger bore on 0.40% slope uphill in soft sand and clay with minimal ground water. Due to soft materials and criticality of grade, pilot tube method selected. Tri-Loc was chosen because of risk of building friction pressure from collapse of hole during pilot tube reaming process. SOIL CONDITIONS: Soft sand and clay with minimal ground water. RESULTS: Along with pilot tube method Tri-Loc allowed for 60’ - 100’ per day average installation leading to exceptionally fast completion. The first 100 feet of the bore encountered ground water. Since the first 100 feet was installed in a day and a half the ground water turning the materials into runny unmanageable slop was relegated to only two pushes rather than at every joint because the water didn’t have time to saturate the spoil in the casing during joint welding. TESTIMONIAL: Tri-Loc coupled with the Akkerman Pilot Tube system created the conditions for the fastest possible installation of a bore under these conditions. There is simply not a Jarred Fuller, Fuller & Co. Construction, LLC. better combination available to our industry. -
TRINITY PRODUCTS, LLC
TRINITYPRODUCTS.COM
800.456.7473
MELCAR GROUP during construction, while preserving the safety of all who are involved, be they the workers or the public. “And today, we’re a prominent force in the infrastructure construction industry,” McIntyre tells us. “Throughout the company’s history, we have gone from being a telecommunications contractor to being a horizontal drilling contractor, and through added capabilities we became a
AT A GLANCE MELCAR SERVICES The Melcar companies collectively offer all-inclusive construction solutions backed by decades of expertise in the industry. In-house fabrication provides custom built products coupled with unique solutions engineered to meet the demand of diverse projects. Company services include: • Directional drilling • Microtunneling • Offshore wind and power • Renewables development • Storm restoration • Tunneling • Auger boring • Infrastructure development • Heavy and specialized hauling • Crane services • Pipe ramming • Hydro excavation • Welding and fabrication • Engineering survey and design • Pipe fusion
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trenchless construction contractor. “There’s nothing that we can’t do in-house when it comes to the field of infrastructure construction.”
ACROSS THE POND Melcar began with Aidan Carolan who immigrated to the US from Ireland in 1986. He had, prior to moving to the US, gained experience scaffolding in London, UK, and used his knowledge and skills to scaffold all across New York City (NYC). “At that time telephones were becoming more common in high rises and the wealth of the average person was increasing,” McIntyre explains. “Those living on the upper floors of the buildings needed telephone lines to reach them, and you had to work through peoples’ closets, fire escapes and other places to facilitate this. “As for streets, many didn’t have overhead electric lines and it was
cheaper to set these up underground. You would have to go under multiple driveways to reach the person who had purchased a telephone, and so the workers would dig a trench perpendicular to the driveway under multiple properties to get there. “Early in his career, Aidan used a sledgehammer to get the job done. One day, he saw another company using a very early version of a directional drill to bore a tunnel through which to feed the cables and noted that he and his colleagues were actually getting the job done faster by hand. Aidan then realized that if he and his team used a drill, they could get the job done 10 times quicker, and so they turned to directional drilling.” From this single vision, the business that later became Melcar skyrocketed, providing a wide range of services supported by its founding values of quality, safety and reliability.
T
rinity Products’ weldless interlocking system, Tri-Loc offers contractors the ability to install casing much faster and more efficiently by eliminating field welding. The machined Male and Female ends of each pipe joint interlock by means of barbs or teeth, that once engaged, do not separate, making it ideal for trenchless Pipe-Jacking installations. Trinity Products manufactures 2 variations of their Tri-Loc steel casing; a 3-Tooth Design used in Auger Boring, and a 4-tooth Design used for Microtunneling. For Auger boring, the 3-Tooth design allows for a reduction in the required jacking forces to fully set or “mate” the interlocking joints. Using a press-fit connection steel pipe eliminates the timely and costly process of aligning and welding each joint of steel casing before advancing more pipe down hole. A joint that may usually take hours to weld, is connected in minutes. Once the auger is placed into the steel casing, the whole process moves quickly. The casing is lowered into the excavation pit by means of the lifting lugs which Trinity Products provides on their TRI-LOC pipe. Once in place, the crew easily aligns the auger pins, and then aligns the joint before advancing the jacking face to set the joint.
Trinity Products, LLC
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T + 1 800 456 7473
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www.trinityproducts.com
MELCAR GROUP
MELCAR MISSION AND VALUES MELCAR’S MISSION IS ITS PROMISE With a generation of young, driven individuals, the company is changing the face of the construction service industry by implementing plans, sales, promotions, and a level of customer service that has forever eluded construction and been held exclusively by the products and hospitality industry. VALUES • Customer Service - As stated in the company mission, Melcar is changing the landscape of customer service within the construction contracting industry by staying true to its roots and maintaining the vision that its clients and staff are always, above all, the firm’s top priority. • Safety – Zero Accident Policy. Safety of staff and the public is put first and foremost on all job sites. • Determination – Completing the most demanding of projects in the most challenging of conditions. • Dedication – The Melcar team is invested in each project, which leads to the overall devotion to seeing each project to success. • Dependability – The history of never leaving a job incomplete or a client unsatisfied presents Melcar with a status of unrelenting reliability.
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LEADING FROM THE FRONT The nature of Melcar echoes throughout its operations and ties in deeply with how it is led; company values trickle down from management level and there is instilled a sense of communal effort that makes Melcar what it is. “We are lucky to have Aidan leading our company, and he sets a great example to our colleagues,” McIntyre tells us. “He leads from the front and is out in the field every single day to ensure quality, productivity, and safety above all else. “It is this dedication that all of our management follow and encourage across the company, and this in turn has helped us form a very unique
culture in the business.” According to McIntyre, part of what makes Melcar different to its competitors in the sector is this dedication of its employees, and the consequent loyalty that stems from this. The company has an incredibly high retention rate and prides itself on valuing each colleague as an asset, recognizing individual efforts and helping bind the work community under a roof of collective effort and stake. “I learnt early on that it is a rarity in our industry to have such loyalty, both from an employee and employer perspective,” McIntyre explains. “However, this starts with the employer, the company. To get
CONSTRUCTION this kind of working culture and result it starts at the core with upper management, and if the company itself is not dedicated to its team members, how can a business ever hope that its staff will be in return.” And from a service point of view, Melcar stands above and apart from its industry peers as a true innovator of service offerings, supplying the market by specializing in all forms of construction to answer a wide range of demands.
DUAL FRONTIER One aspect of Melcar’s innovative nature is exemplified in its capacity to adapt to the needs and requirements of the market and customers. The company is currently transitioning from being an underground construction contractor to focusing more on being an infrastructure contractor, as McIntyre elaborates. “We are aiming to be the one-stop solution for any infrastructure project, from the engineering side to the finished plant,” he says. “Whether the projects are based in the areas of water, telecommunication, electric, or gas, we are looking to provide this full service from inception to the implementation and design, and through to the end process for the customer in their home. “And at the same time, it is an exciting time for Melcar when it comes to adapting to balance underground and above ground operations due to the variety of different needs for either separate environment. For the foreseeable future, infrastructure development is going to be above ground, and so being able to combine capabilities in both environments is going to be a huge and important aspect of business.” Moving forward considering this, Melcar is planning to continue to make large investments into its microtunneling capabilities. The company currently owns all of its microtunneling equipment - that
provides installation ranges of up to 144-inches – and is a 100 percent in-house provided service, with the majority of revenue made by Melcar being placed back into the company to better prepare it and expand its capabilities into the future. This kind of investment is not solely being placed in the realm of service provision, however. Melcar is also geared towards investment in its own teams of employees; dedicated staff that drive the company forward. “Our current and future investment in our business capabilities hinges on our investment in the Melcar team,” McIntyre explains. “We need more crews, more equipment and people in every position from laborer to management. “Over the past two months, we have been awarded more work than we could have ever imagined and so our
first and foremost goal is to maintain who we are. We don’t want to grow too large too fast - we cannot allow ourselves to lose sight of our morals and guiding principles of quality, reliability and values centered around the customers and our people. We are building up new crews and training people one at a time until they are ready both in terms of training, safety, and self-sufficient to operate without mid or upper management on site. “The future lies with a focus on our team first.”
james@melcar.us www.melcargroup.com
North America Outlook issue 06 | 57
KBR
58 | North America Outlook issue 06
TECHNOLOGY
TRADING ON THE FUTURE WITH KBR KBR is the modern-minded business delivering solutions for tomorrow’s problems, today. President and CEO Stuart Bradie explores maintaining an agile, people-centric culture as the company pursues an upmarket trajectory Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: Lewis Bush
The things that we do are hugely uplifting, and the main reason for that is that our people do things that matter.” From its multi-billion-dollar business working with supporting NASA on
the International Space Station, to creating a plastics circular economy with a revolutionary recycling technology, KBR is at the forefront of innovation, delivering solutions for the advancement of modern society.
KBR is truly a global enterprise, with approximately 29,000 employees around the world , an operational presence in 40 countries — particularly in the US, UK and Australia — and customers in more than 80 countries.
North America Outlook issue 06 | 59
KBR
Baretti Baretti was founded in 1890 by Giovanni Baretti. Since then, Baretti has gone through several changes in accordance to the market needs and socio-economic advancement. Today Baretti is the key player in Mass transfer technology and Marine Loading arms. Baretti’s equipment for Mass transfer can be found all over the world in different refineries and Marine loading arms for fluid transfer.
Stuart Bradie, CEO, KBR
“IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE LEARN FROM OUR PAST, BUT WE MUST TRADE ON OUR FUTURE. CONSTANT CHANGE IS THE NEW NORMAL AND IT’S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR CULTURE ALLOWS US TO BE ADAPTIVE AND AGILE” - STUART BRADIE, CEO, KBR KBR’s diverse client portfolio ranges from high-profile companies to national governments around the world. Over the years, KBR has accrued an impressive number of accolades and industry firsts that has earned it a welldeserved reputation as a world-class provider of differentiated solutions and technology. KBR specializes in delivering leading-edge science, technology and engineering solutions, as well as value-added services and long-term operations and maintenance services, within the government, industrial and energy sectors – a significant departure from the company’s early roots in construction after its founding by the Brown brothers in Texas more than a century ago. “Standalone construction became highly competitive, and the margins were reduced. So, despite 100 years of 60 | North America Outlook issue 06
heritage, we exited that business. “That was quite emotional for a lot of people, especially in Houston, but that was the right move for us and proves how we are able to react,” explains Stuart Bradie, President and CEO at KBR. This ability to pivot and navigate a changing market captures the essence of agility and innovation that defines the organization today. Indeed, the shift to services within science, technology and engineering was entirely borne out of a longterm strategic vision and pioneered by Bradie after he embarked on his tenure as President and CEO in 2014. “It’s important that we learn from our past, but we must trade on our future. Constant change is the new normal and it’s vitally important that our culture allows us to be adaptive and agile,” Bradie tells us.
Baretti is focused upon technologies for hydrocarbon processing and separation components. Its portfolio of products of all mass transfer equipment can be installed easily inside the columns or Baretti’s supervisors can support directly on site or from remote systems for any kind of needs at the refineries. Baretti helps in turnaround projects and always ready to help in any kind of revamp or replacement required on site raised by the refinery. Baretti believe that providing client satisfaction is the most important factor in developing relationships. Baretti Marine Loading arm realization started in 1960s, with important realization for ENI group in Italy and further went ahead to international companies. More stringent environmental and safety regulations have driven Baretti towards new solutions and more modern design concepts. From 1986, Baretti has been the first to apply hydraulic motors instead of the oleo-dynamic cylinders. This solution allows a smoother control of the arm’s kinematics and generally of all its movements. The arm can gently rotate up to 360°. Baretti has the technology of production, maintenance and assistance for Loading arms. For Baretti it has been a progressive history of successes with the most prestigious EPCs Process Licensors and End users all over the world. Baretti will always dedicate its time and energy to provide innovative technical solutions to satisfy the needs of every client.
www.baretti.it
From the internals of Crude Fractionator till transfer of fluid through the Marine Loading arms to the Vessels, Baretti can supply the key products for refinery profitability. From more than 60 years Baretti is into the business of manufacturing equipment for hydrocarbon processing technology. Delivering Mass Transfer component (e.g distillation trays, packings,distributors etc) for conversion of hydrocarbons into high added value products . Baretti’s Marine Loading Arms are designed with advance technology, to transfer liquid products or LNG into vessels for transporting worldwide. Please contact your new partner Baretti Mefe Srl.
Baretti Mefe s.r.l. SS 415 Ponte Adda, 26016 Spino D’Adda (CR), Italy Ph +39 0373 96701 | baretti@baretti.it www.baretti.it
KBR
FBM Hudson Italiana FBM Hudson Italiana’s (“FBMHI”) partnership with KBR dates back more than 50 years and this certainly reflects the strong, deep-rooted, and long-standing business relationship between our two companies. We continue to place great importance on our partnership, which brings forward FBMHI’s skilled expertise and advanced technology to unlock value from our resources for the benefits of KBR’s international clients. It is within our strategy to continuously strengthen our cooperation further, which we strongly believe can lead to a greater awareness of each other, key to mutual benefits and deliver the most outstanding possible positive returns to both parties.
“You can’t have innovation if you can’t be adaptive, and you can’t be adaptive if you don’t employ the right people,” he continues.
www.fbmhudson.com
IT BEGINS WITH PEOPLE KBR first came up on Bradie’s radar while at his previous position as head of global operations at a company with whom KBR had undertaken a number of joint ventures. “KBR was a very well-respected brand that opened a lot of doors. The capability of the people that I met there was terrific and very impressive,” he says. However, Bradie recognized that KBR’s “people potential” was yet to be fully unleashed and, consequently, he saw an exciting opportunity for transformation with a rejuvenated company culture at the fore. “Over the past six years, the focus on people and changing our culture, which I began on day one in truly making KBR an exciting place to work, continues to this day.” KBR employs a “Team of Teams” methodology, whereby a safe environment is created in which inclusive and diverse opinions are heard and valued, without fear of reprehension from those in senior positions. 62 | North America Outlook issue 06
“This means that you get the real voice of the organization coming through in a very constructive way, resulting in more good decisions than bad. We embrace that as a culture,” he tells us. Bradie’s desire is that, by creating such an attractive work environment, KBR will become a true “talent magnet.” Not only does this strategy help create an empowered workforce, but it also has the additional benefit of establishing shareholder value. KBR’s successes and numbers are testament to this worthwhile effort. “We’re one of the fastest growing businesses in the US – it’s a terrific time to be part of KBR. Our people do things that matter, and my job is to empower them and facilitate them to do more. “The day that people feel I’m not listening to our team is the day they should fire me,” he states.
SMITHCO Industrial Supply SMITHCO continually strives to be the leader in customer service by providing quick and accurate delivery of material needs. Whether your project is large or small, local or global, we have the capacity and inventory to make it a success. SMITHCO is currently a valued partner for KBR on major projects such as Exxon BLADE, and Exxon PCV Terminal. We provide critical pipe, valves, flanges, fittings, and comprehensive hydrotesting packages. Having consistent on time delivery and sourcing of hard to find materials have been an integral part in providing KBR with increased craft productivity. “At KBR, we deliver, and our ability to deliver depends on a vast network of trusted vendors and suppliers. To achieve our business goals it is essential to have suppliers who share the same values as KBR.” - KBR
www.smithcois.com
TECHNOLOGY
FBM HUDSON ITALIANA is a leading global brand in the design and manufacture of process equipment for oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical, oil refining, power & fertilizer industry. Thanks to our extensive and proven engineering and manufacturing performance, we can boast to have developed enhanced designs and manufacturing methods for HP process equipment as well as the use of corrosion-resistant materials. FBM HUDSON ITALIANA is specialized in the research & manufacture of: • Air-cooled HE skilled in LNG plants • High-pressure/ high-temperature shell & tube HE including breech lock type • High-pressure urea & ammonia HE • Process gas waste heat boilers • Special tubular HP reactors/pressure vessels
info@fbmhudson.com +39 035 4941.301 Via Valtrighe 5 / 24030 Terno d’Isola BG ITALY
www.fbmhudson.com
ELEVATING OUR CLIENTS’ CRAFT PRODUCTIVITY.
FLANGES AND FITTINGS, VALVES
PIPE & TUBING
FABRICATION
SMITHCO Industrial Supply offers comprehensive solutions for all your commodity and hard to find weld fittings, flanges, valves and related PVF items in support of the industrial marketplace. We serve all process piping industry sectors, including oil & gas, power, chemical, both for MRO and Project level activity. Our Renewal Energy offering includes: solar equipment, installation, and operating & maintenance services. Our vast inventory is conveniently available for local will call and same day shipment. Need something after hours or specially made? No problem! With SMITHCO’s 24/7 emergency service and in house machine shop, we’re ready to meet your most demanding needs. For quality material and service, call SMITHCO. We’re ready to serve you! HONEST. DEPENDABLE. RESPONSIVE.
SMITHCO I N D U S T R I A L
S U P P L Y
STRUCTURAL STEEL, GASKETS, FASTENERS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT, INSTALL, MAINTENANCE
PRODUCTS
Material Grades: carbon, low temp, high yield, stainless, chrome, and alloy Pipe | Fittings & Flanges | Valves | Gaskets | Fasteners | Structural Steel FABRICATION Pipe Support | Piping Accessories | Structural Fab | Pipe Fab MACHINING Figure 8 Blinds | Paddle Blinds | Shims TOOLS, SAFETY & CONSUMABLES
Locations Garret Smith – President •7651 Realtors Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 •7774 Braniff St., Houston, TX 77061 •Toll free line: 888-727-4044 •sales@smithcois.com •101 Hwy 146 North, Texas City, TX 77590
www.smithcois.com
North America Outlook issue 06 | 63
KBR
SOLUTIONS THAT MATTER This progressive company culture is the true bedrock of the innovative solutions that KBR delivers. Within KBR’s diverse and immensely varied portfolio, Bradie highlights several particularly dynamic areas of development. In the vein of delivering solutions that matter, KBR’s sustainable technology business is a key point of differentiation. “What’s unique about KBR is the way that we prioritize sustainability,” Bradie says. Aside from helping other companies to achieve their own environmental commitments by delivering sustainable technology, 64 | North America Outlook issue 06
KBR itself achieved carbon neutrality in 2019, and continues on a promising path to attaining net zero by 2030. Externally, KBR is accelerating solutions such as decarbonization and energy transition in the global fight against climate change. It has introduced a cutting-edge plastics recycling technology to market, Hydro-PRT℠, that has the potential to be a true difference maker. “We’re involved in advancing solutions around the next plastic circular economy. We have found a technology that revolutionizes plastics recycling by enabling us to recycle 90 percent of all plastics.” Within the role of driving energy transition, KBR has adopted a strong
advisory voice, guiding national agencies such as the Singapore PMO and the Japanese government in terms of strategy, policy and investment in the move towards decarbonized economies. KBR is also taking great strides within the hydrogen economy, with the transportation of ammonia in liquid form both quickly and efficiently. “For the hydrogen economy of the future, we have got the mousetrap to create ammonia, and we are the world leader in that technology. This allows energy to be transported around the world in a very carbon-friendly way.” KBR is also the world leader in human space flight and is committed
TECHNOLOGY to the advancement of humankind through its work with NASA and the International Space Station (ISS). “We are becoming a more prominent presence in the commercial space sector. It’s an evolving field and we do a lot of work in supporting its development. For example, we train all the astronauts that are sent to the ISS,” Bradie explains. With so much of our everyday lives reliant on assets in commercial space – from the GPS on our phones to the way that we communicate with each other – there is potential for KBR to play an integral role. The company also works in
alignment with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), helping develop, deploy and operate the agency’s new space weather antennae network. This essentially enables the accurate monitoring of space weather, which helps to the protect the lives and livelihoods of millions across the globe. Complementary to KBR’s sustainability efforts, the company can monitor and gather accurate data pertaining to global environmental issues, such as deforestation and the depletion of arable land, thanks to the remote sensing Landsat satellites it operates for the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA.
“The Landsat satellites are constantly orbiting the Earth gathering data that is transmitted to the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science facility in South Dakota, which we operate as well. We create advanced data products and distribute them globally to government agencies, academia and the public,” he adds. KBR’s extra-terrestrial role also encompasses military purposes. “We’re at the forefront of space superiority around military space and are helping stake that out for the US and the allies. We do see this as the next war fighting domain with China and Russia.”
North America Outlook issue 06 | 65
KBR Back on Earth, this extends to a prominent effort to advance the defense sector, both on the ground and in the digital realm, by helping protect and advance the intelligence community around cyber. “In terms of national security, we do a lot of work in the intelligence community. We’ve got a lot of very clever people working with offensive and defensive cyber.” KBR also leads the field in terms of developing truck-mounted lasers that are able to take down drones, which is becoming an increasingly critical system of defense.
KBR Human Performance Brooks Fuge
ENABLING INNOVATION When asked how KBR can continue innovating and maintaining its position at the forefront of industry, Bradie returns to the importance of agility and stresses the need for speed in order to stay ahead of the relentless pace of industrial evolution. “Agility and innovation are table stakes today – you have to bring them every day as part of your culture and what you deliver,” he says. “You have to be quick off the mark and pragmatic in recognizing how you operationalize certain things pretty quickly. We do that within climate change, we do that within
digitalization, and we do that within digital engineering.” The company boasts rapid prototyping processes that take projects from idea to life-sized demonstrations at unparalleled speed, a key differentiator. On the subject of digital engineering, Bradie highlights KBR’s technological prowess through the example of pioneering digital environments that enable the trialling of new products in a faster, more streamlined process. “For example, if a government wants to put a new jet fighter into operation, you previously had to trial
TECHNOLOGY that physically with one very brave pilot and several iterations. Now, you can create that digitally and have a digital environment in which you can factor all of the variabilites that a pilot would have to endure in testing. “This enables much quicker testing, and with far less risk.” R&D is the true backbone of all innovation efforts at KBR. KBR has several active prototyping contracts with contract vehicles designed to facilitate innovation. “We are extremely operationally focused in taking R&D concepts and realizing them into operation far quicker than any of our peers.
“WE’RE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING BUSINESSES IN THE US – IT’S A TERRIFIC TIME TO BE PART OF KBR” - STUART BRADIE, CEO, KBR
“We have also got innovation incubators and a kind of dragon’s den process – I’m sure that lots of companies have that, but I think it’s the culture and capabilities that we have within the organization that align strategically with larger things, such as the global power competition between China, Russia and the US,” he explains.
EYES ON THE HORIZON Turning his attention to the years ahead, Bradie outlines the big-picture strategy that will guide KBR as it aspires to continue upmarket while evolving and adapting to the world’s shifting needs. This includes developing its consulting role in the high-end arena, identifying growing opportunities within the government sector and in the cyber and digital realms in particular.
As for the company itself, Bradie remains steadfast in his priorities and values. “It’s incumbent on us to remain humble and not to believe that we are infallible. We must continue to run a very flat organization to ensure that we remain connected to our people.” Ultimately, KBR will continue to invest in its people while relentlessly pursuing that white space that sparks innovation.
Tel: 713-753-2000 mediarelations@kbr.com www.KBR.com
North America Outlook issue 06 | 67
LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY
68 | North America Outlook issue 06
TECHNOLOGY
MAKING MODERN LIFE POSSIBLE Originating in 1907, Lummus Technology boasts over a century of technological innovation within the process industries. We catch up with President and CEO, Leon de Bruyn, as the business marks its first year as a standalone company Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: David Knott
If we develop new technologies that are more efficient and more sustainable, then our customers can deliver products that are cleaner, cheaper, with less waste and emissions, while taking their inherent by-products and putting them into circulation for further use. “The energy transition is a challenge to our industry, and we are excited to meet it head on,” opens Leon de Bruyn, President and CEO of Lummus Technology (Lummus). Today, Lummus occupies the
vanguard of driving the energy transition, with de Bruyn himself fully alert to the dynamic paradigm shift that is overtaking the North American, and indeed global, energy sector. The events of the past two years have been a true catalyst in accelerating the need for change. “The recent pandemic, significant shifts in work and travel as well as consumption patterns and regulatory changes have given way to strategies of what cleaner and consolidated energy generation and transmission look like. Ethylene plant
North America Outlook issue 06 | 69
LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY
ATB Riva Calzoni ATB Riva Calzoni has a long and successful operation experience as a world leader in the design, fabrication and inspection of pressure vessels utilized in the oil and gas industry, refinery and petrochemical plants operating under the most severe pressure and temperature conditions under corrosion and hydrogen attacks. ATB tracking references covers almost the complete range of oil and gas components required for Upstream, Midstream and Downstream applications. ATB has become one of the world leaders in manufacturing of Cr, Mo Steel alloys including the latest generation of vanadium modified alloys.
“INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION IS IN OUR DNA” - LEON DE BRUYN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY “The language around clean energy, greenhouse gas, renewables and recyclables has been around for many years, but there is more urgency now and companies are altering their business models,” he explains. At Lummus, the proposition of meeting and adapting to modern challenges is nothing new – indeed, the company has been designing innovations for the process industry for well over a century, resulting in over 130 technologies and 3,400 patents and patent applications. Although a global enterprise, Lummus benefits from a particularly strong North American market presence, bolstered by a wellequipped workforce and years of experience and business. The company boasts world-class R&D centers in both the US and Germany, where a team of over 650 highly-qualified scientists, product experts and technicians are dedicated to transforming innovative ideas into tangible solutions. As a 70 | North America Outlook issue 06
business centered on the concept of innovation, these facilities are the true crux of the company’s operations. “Our engineers and R&D environment support a “conceptto-completion” mentality that has established a long track record of creating and commercializing new technologies,” de Bruyn adds. For de Bruyn, it has been a rich and varied journey to his position today. “I am proud to see how we have become an innovative technology leader, with a passionate workforce ready to develop solutions to overcome some of society’s greatest challenges and propel our industry forward,” he tells us. Indeed, our discussion takes place as Lummus marks its first year in operation as a standalone company. Lummus embarked on this chapter in 2020, when the business was purchased by Rhône Capital and The Chatterjee Group, heralding an exciting new iteration of the company’s trajectory.
During over half a century, ATB established a long-standing successful cooperation with Chevron Lummus Global, being one of the few companies in the world qualified for the supply of critical Reactors of refineries Hyprocessing Unit with CLG technology. ATB MAIN PRODUCTS are: • Hydroprocessing Reactors and Separators • Ammonia Converters and Urea Reactors • Methanol Reactors • Reformers • Heavy Wall Columns • Heavy Wall Process Separators & Drums • Large Diameter Columns & Towers • Shell & Tube HE Since 1960 ATB has designed and manufactured over 2,600 reactors and separators for the petrochemical industry (average production of 10,000 tons per year) Thanks to its expertise and through its operating units, ATB offers its customers a complete set of services for Operation & Maintenance: • Inspection Activities • On-site interventions • Maintenance Engineering • Supply and Installation of Spare Parts • Staff Training
www.atb.group/en/
GLOBAL EXPERIENCE, ITALIAN KNOW-HOW
ATB RIVA CALZONI, since 1960 it’s a world leader in the design, fabrication and inspection of heavy wall critical pressure vessels for oil and gas and fertilizing plants with more than 2,600 items already delivered. Thanks to its expertise and through its operating units, ATB offers its customers also a complete set of services for Operation and Maintenance.
CONTACT Via Industriale 13, 25030 - Roncadelle (BS) ITALY T: +39 030 25811 mail: he@atb.group
LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATE, CREATE, IMPROVE “The energy transition is the lens through which we view everything now. What I mean by that is, everything we do can be more efficient. That is the mentality we have had throughout our existence — Innovate. Create. Improve,” states de Bruyn. With technology commercialization and innovation intrinsically woven into the company’s DNA, this is evidenced at Lummus by decades of delivering breakthrough technologies for a range of customers within refining and petrochemicals. “We put the technology into our customers’ plants through design, catalysts and proprietary equipment, and continue our support during the plant’s life cycle through services, digital products and plant optimization,” de Bruyn continues. Today, these traditional technologies have expanded as Lummus’ heritage of innovation thrives in alignment with the urgent global need for cleaner energy and sustainable by-products.
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“WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE WE ARE ALL MOVING IN THE SAME DIRECTION TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL. THIS HAS HELPED GROW OUR BUSINESSES AND DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGHS TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE INDUSTRY’S MOST COMPLEX CHALLENGES” - LEON DE BRUYN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY As the energy transition represents a key growth area for Lummus, the company’s Green Circle business stands at the forefront of industry innovation. “Through Green Circle, we are rapidly developing solutions for the circular economy, producing cleaner and renewable fuels, hydrogen technology and decarbonization of refinery and petrochemicals assets,” he tells us. Green Circle strengthens Lummus’ in-house capabilities by developing energy transition technologies.
Additionally, de Bruyn identifies Green Circle as the “launchpad” through which Lummus’ partners can bring sustainable solutions to market. Lummus is continually developing innovations to reduce carbon footprint, improve efficiency, and reduce energy intensity. For instance, the company’s ethylene plants are equipped with a product separation system that is unparalleled in terms of efficiency. Another example is Lummus’ collaboration with Applied Research Associates to develop a capital efficient biofuels technology.
TECHNOLOGY Through this method, Lummus was able to produce more petrochemicals through fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). Another key branch of innovation is encompassed by Lummus Digital – a partnership with TCG Digital whereby the collective strength of both companies is fully leveraged to drive digitalization throughout the energy footprint. “At Lummus Digital, we consider the benefits to the downstream energy industry by more effectively managing assets, troubleshooting operations and forecasting critical maintenance needs. “We work with our existing customer base as well as new customers to implement a digital platform and solutions for their assets across the hydrocarbon processing value chain,” de Bruyn explains. Elsewhere in the company, innovation acts as the cornerstone of Lummus’ technological prowess. On the ground, this is put in place by the company’s esteemed team of engineers, scientists, and “technology visionaries” who do not shy away from a challenge. “We have an in-house technology engineering community comprising nearly 75 percent of our workforce. Moreover, we have three worldclass R&D centers where we can collaborate, experiment and drive innovation to create and improve our technologies,” de Bruyn explains. Indeed, Lummus recently commissioned a range of pilot plants in order to test new technologies for Green Circle, polypropylene, Chevron Lummus Global, CDTech and FCC. Ultimately, the company’s perpetual pursuit of innovation results in a range of technologies that offer customers solutions that are reliable and economic due to lower energy intensity, while facilitating better product yields and improved quality. Lummus thrives amidst the highly dynamic backdrop of the North American energy industry. North America Outlook issue 06 | 73
LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY
“Innovation and technology commercialization is in our DNA.”
PIONEERING THE ECOSYSTEM Steeped in over 110 years of operation, the company’s heritage provides a rich backing of experience and business on which to capitalize. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Lummus’ ability to attract and retain robust long-term partnerships. “We have been successful in developing and strengthening effective partnerships throughout our history,” de Bruyn affirms. This ability to cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships is proven by Lummus’ history of partnering with some of the most forward-thinking organizations in the world. “Digitalization, Green Circle, the energy transition, circular economy efforts, carbon capture technology, 74 | North America Outlook issue 06
TC2C™ crude-to-chemicals, and more, are just a few of the areas in which we are finding opportunities,” explains de Bruyn. In order to implement the visionary ecosystem of innovation that Lummus aspires to, as embodied by the Lummus ‘Green Circle’ business, the company is reliant on establishing a stable and wide-reaching network of partners and suppliers. After all, strength lies in collaboration. “Lummus and our partners realize that technology breakthroughs, adapting to and accelerating digitalization, addressing the energy transition, among many other issues we face, cannot be done alone.
A key piece of the energy transition is the circular economy. In the circular economy of our industry, Lummus licenses a leading plastic waste conversion technology based on thermal pyrolysis that will help reduce plastic waste through integrated processing solutions for turning end-of-life plastics into pyrolysis oil. This pyrolysis oil can then be processed back into plastics or blended into fuels.
TECHNOLOGY
“This mutual understanding has helped Lummus and our partners work together to provide new, innovative world-class solutions that make modern life possible,” he surmises. One such partnership that aptly demonstrates this marriage in working towards a common goal is Lummus’ recent joint venture with New Hope Technologies, a Texasbased company with a leading plastic waste conversion technology. “Together, Lummus and New Hope are bringing this technology to market to address the nonstop flow of plastics waste created daily. We intend to be the largest supplier of technology to convert plastic waste to circular products in the world.”
A PROMISING FUTURE Looking to the years ahead, de Bruyn
hints at the exciting future potential of Lummus as a newly independent enterprise with an ambitious growth agenda. “The next year is one of growth in all dimensions — new technologies, new partnerships, a growing global footprint and delivering more value to the energy industry by diversification into products and
technologies that matter for the future,” de Bruyn tells us. “We are very excited to look at a bold and rapid expansion of our business. With that in mind, we say for this year, ‘here comes the future!’ — let us get ready for it now.” With Lummus’ newfound independence having been tried and tested in the crucible of the COVID-19 pandemic, de Bruyn has full confidence in his company’s ability. “We just completed our first year as a standalone company, and we managed to do so stably despite an obviously very turbulent year.”
www.LummusTechnology.com
North America Outlook issue 06 | 75
FAREYE
MAKE YOUR DELIVERY OPERATIONS MORE SUSTAINABLE WITH THESE KEY STRATEGIES FarEye’s technology enables logistics and supply chain sustainability. FarEye’s President of the Americas, Paul Greifenberger, shares how FarEye’s logistics solutions not only help enterprises be more customer-driven but also accomplish ‘carbon neutrality’ Writer: Phoebe Harper | Project Manager: Tom Cullum
O
ne silver lining that resulted from the pandemic is a renewed focus on sustainable living. Increased awareness from consumers and policymakers alike has helped enterprises realize that the cost of not investing in sustainable practices can be huge. Combine that fact with the increasing number of deliveries we’ve seen since the pandemic began, and it’s clear how large an impact delivery operations can have on an organization. Enterprises across the world are taking initiatives to reduce their carbon footprints and are adopting technological solutions to make their supply chains more sustainable. The transportation and logistics industry contributes 17 percent to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Shipments, transported via air and road, account for roughly 95% of all freight emissions, 76 | North America Outlook issue 06
which exceeded 4 gigatons of carbon dioxide (Gt CO2) in 2019. Unless the trend changes, emissions are likely to hit seven gigatons CO2 by 2050, according to a BCG report. By focusing on sustainability, companies in the logistics sector can empower enterprises to reduce their carbon footprint and prove to be a game changer in battling climate change.
PRESSURE FROM ECO-FRIENDLY CONSUMERS, GOVERNMENT, AND INVESTORS Consumer behavior has rapidly changed in recent years with an increasing shift towards green consumerism. An IBM Institute for Business Value report states that 57 percent of consumers are willing to change their consumption pattern to help reduce negative environmental impact.
TECHNOLOGY
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FAREYE In a 2020 survey conducted by the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council of North America (CCRRC), shoppers stated that they would be willing to increase spending by up to four percent to shop at a food retailer that supported the environment, while
HOW TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DELIVERIES WITH FAREYE: REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS - Maximize vehicle utilization while reducing the number of miles driven per vehicle. CUT COSTS - Reduce fuel costs and increase profitability with efficiently optimized routes. LOGISTICS OPTIMIZATION Improve efficiency in your entire supply chain landscape across the first, mid, and last mile, and in multiple modes.
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also driving up to 10 minutes further to a store that embraces eco-friendly practices. Governments and institutions across the world are doing their bit by nudging enterprises to follow the path of sustainability. An EY report published in 2020 shows how investors are considering environmental impact when they make asset allocation decisions. Consumers, investors, and government environmental protection agencies have influenced enterprises to set tough sustainability goals for the next decade. An international survey by a global third-party operator revealed that 81 percent of companies are focusing more on sustainability today than they did three years ago.
DEFINING SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY In its 2021 State of Supply Chain Sustainability report, the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics
defines supply chain sustainability as “the management of environmental and social impacts within and across networks consisting of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” It is not enough to simply leverage sustainability as a corporate marketing strategy. Within the world of retail and consumer goods, transparency and open reporting on results are increasingly in demand.
ENTERPRISES SET SUSTAINABILITY GOALS Top businesses worldwide are taking various initiatives to meet their sustainability targets. For instance, Amazon, Ikea, and Unilever have recently signed an agreement to use only zero-carbon marine fuels by 2040 to help decarbonization in the maritime sector. And Walmart’s Project Gigaton targets avoiding one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
TECHNOLOGY
A flexible and scalable delivery platform empowering enterprises to unlock a more personalized delivery experience and achieve operational efficiency.
www.getfareye.com
Furthering the push to set sustainability goals, a recent Gartner report calls on leaders in logistics industries to pursue external partnerships to reduce carbon emissions. “Organizations on an emissions reduction journey initially leverage optimization strategies. These strategies include modal shift, load optimization and network design all aimed at emissions reduction,” said Sarah Watt, senior director analyst with the Gartner Supply Chain practice. “However, for organizations with significant emissions reduction goals, these initial inhouse activities don’t go far enough.” Logistics leaders must provide greater visibility to customers in regard to how their decisions impact emissions and communicate with consumers about shipping options which have less of an environmental impact than same-day deliveries.
EYEING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH FAREYE Founded in 2013, FarEye is a global enterprise with a presence that spans over 30 countries and caters to over 150 customers. FarEye’s solutions enable enterprises to achieve sustainability goals while ensuring efficient and accurate deliveries. In 2020, the company’s intelligent delivery management platform helped retailers, manufacturers, and
logistics service providers reduce carbon emissions by more than 21,000 tons by optimizing their logistics operations. “Everything that we do is customerdriven, customer-minded, and environmentally responsible,” says Paul Greifenberger, President of the Americas at FarEye. The company has a host of innovative solutions like dynamic route optimization and loop optimization that help in reduction of miles driven annually and have a direct impact on carbon emissions. Route optimization not only helps in meeting sustainability goals but also contributes to an increase in on-time deliveries and driver efficiency. With loop optimization, enterprises can cut their empty miles with auto-routing and lower their yearly carbon dioxide emissions. A centralized delivery management system brings together the different stakeholders like logistics North America Outlook issue 06 | 79
FAREYE managers, hub managers, and drivers and enables real-time communication. “We weave sustainability into our products by leveraging technology to improve first-attempt deliveries, which reduces miles, and hours on the road,” says Greifenberger. Taking advantage of machine learning-based geocoding, FarEye provides intelligent address resolution that improves address accuracy and enhances fleet utilization. This further facilitates reducing miles per driver. And, FarEye provides sustainability at every step by optimizing returns. Synchronizing returns operations between customers and drivers helps reduce empty trips.
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SUSTAINABLE EFFICIENCIES ENABLED BY FAREYE’S INTELLIGENT DELIVERY PLATFORM: • Reducing vehicle idling time •R educing dwell/wait times • Proactively managing route deviations •O ptimizing the number of trips • Reducing delivery time and saving fuel • Reducing delivery failures by scheduling deliveries • Reducing empties • I ncreasing first-attempt delivery rates
TECHNOLOGY
“WE ARE ENHANCING OUR SUSTAINABILITY DASHBOARDS TO ALLOW OUR CUSTOMERS TO SEE FIRST-HAND WHAT WE ARE SAVING THEM IN THE FORM OF MILEAGE, HOURS, AND EMISSIONS” - PAUL GREIFENBERGER, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAS, FAREYE In addition, FarEye exploits the potential of autonomous delivery to reduce manpower and to keep delivery ecosystems agile. Alternate modes of delivery, such as drones, are rising to the fore today “A key area we are looking into is autonomous deliveries and we are committed to providing value to our customers by redefining logistics and what the new normal will be,” notes Greifenberger. Finally, FarEye enables enterprises to gain real-time actionable visibility across miles and modes. “Our
sustainability dashboards allow our customers to see first-hand what we’re saving them in the form of mileage, hours, and emissions,” states Greifenberger. “It is about having a single pane of glass to view all events throughout the journey to ensure consumers’ expectations are met while optimizing costs and minimizing an organization’s carbon footprint.” “With some of the world’s largest companies using FarEye’s low-code SaaS platform, there is enough
validation to what we’re doing in the market and how we’re different,” he adds.
IN CONCLUSION The growing concern over climate change has pushed companies into doing their part to reduce carbon emissions. Taking care of operational waste and doing the right thing is no longer optional. By driving towards sustainability, enterprises can not only do their part for the environment, but also win the hearts and minds of their consumers.
contact@getfareye.com www.getfareye.com
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THE FINAL WORD To round off each issue, we ask our contributing business leaders for their views on the same question
What person or piece of advice is a source of inspiration to your industry?
Leon de Bruyn CEO, Lummus Technology “Our industry is going through a rapid transformation that creates unique opportunities for smart, creative and determined people. So, my advice is: be bold. Now is an excellent time for big, bold ideas and new ways of thinking. Our industry needs it!” 82 | North America Outlook issue 06
Tiffany Buzatto Founder and Creator, DEW Mighty “Remember that profitability does not come first which is usually what leads most brands, and other things might be of higher value. Patience is important in launching a product and researching materials. “Sometimes, getting ‘no’s’ in business ends up leading you to the right door, with the ‘yes’ that you need to keep going. Try not to rush to market just to make money, and rather thoughtfully create something that solves a problem long-term.”
my time with Melcar he has been there to guide me and many others, and he has earnt a great deal of respect having started this company and leading from the front. “It is that kind of inspiration that drives people forward to work hard and achieve even when there are difficult times, and we see his dedication every day, so we all aim to match that and reach the collective goals that the company holds. Like any business leader he wants to see the company succeed, but he also wants to see us each individually succeed, and it’s a real driving force for everyone knowing that.”
James McIntyre Managing Director, Melcar Group “Aidan Carolan has been, and continues to be, a source of inspiration in my career. Throughout
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Supplying logistical automation solutions across the US... WYNRIGHT CORPORATION
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24 22 WYNRIGHT CORPORATION
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WIPOTEC
THE MASTERS OF MATERIAL HANDLING Operating beneath the banner of Daifuku North America, we talk to Cory Flemings, Executive Vice President of Sales at Wynright Corporation, about the company supplying solutions in the material handling industry Writer: Marcus Kääpä | Project Manager: Tom Cullum
Often referred to as a “triple scale,” WIPOTEC-OCS’ HC-FL-T Catchweigher combines three hardware and three virtual scales into six scales. Each scale is capable of operating independently allowing product gaps as short as 10” (254 mm). The triple-scale design delivers a 60% throughput increase over its double-scale predecessor, even while guaranteeing exemplary weighing precision and rugged durability.
NORTH AMERICA OUTLOOK: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WYNRIGHT’S TEAM AND YOUR SUBSEQUENT MANAGEMENT STYLE? Cory Flemings, Executive Vice President of Sales:“My team has a tremendous amount of industry knowledge and systems expertise. They are seasoned executives that value our customer relationships.
I
f the vast impact of COVID-19 has shown us anything, it is that the supply chain is critical to the continued fluid function of our daily lives, whether that’s receiving goods for domestic living, the office, or keeping businesses running day to day and month to month. Each aspect of the supply chain,
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“My moral compass is set to ‘do the right thing’ and I value a
and ASME standards for all of our manufactured products,” Flemings informs us. “Wynright goes to great lengths to incorporate safety precautions within the design and construction of our equipment. Whenever a potential safety problem cannot be eliminated in the design stages of the equipment, we are careful to include proper guarding against potential mishaps. Emergency stops, guard rails, netting, chain guards, and warning labels are representative of the types of built-in safety features provided by Wynright. “We are also serious about our client’s safety. Wynright employs a full-time dedicated corporate safety director responsible for implementing and coordinating a detailed safe plan of action with our clients on every project. Over 80 of our project managers, engineers, and installers are OSHA certified.”
Depending on the product length, the triple scale can weigh up to three products simultaneously. The NTEP approved HC-FL-T Catchweigher can process up to 19,000 parcels per hour at transport speeds up to 670 ft/ min(3.4 m/s).
www.wipotec-ocs.com
focus on our North American brand messaging, update our web presence and enhance our innovation center engagement. “We will also bring our urbanized distribution center functionality and knowledge to North America and share the benefits of smaller footprint multi-level DCs, fully automated solutions, immediate order-filling, full traceability, over a 99.9 percent accuracy of operations, and in-store micro fulfilment. “This plan will see Wynright’s continued success and growth under Daifuku across the US for the longterm.”
‘boots on the ground’ approach, from production and shipping to consumerism has seen an absolute so I lead by example. I strive boom in home deliveries ranging from material handling, has becometo ensure there is consistency between my words and pronounced in the past two years food my actions, engaging and to clothing and kitchenware. empowering my team to be the gears behind such a vast not only due to the pandemic (albeit And innovative and take initiative. I COVID-19 playing a large part in it), wheel of industry are these aspects of want them to be comfortable enough to step up, be creative, but also the increasingly technological the supply chain, each of which plays and get things done. YEARS AHEAD a core role inTHE getting a product from development of countries around “I havethe found that true Looking further into the decade, empowerment comes through globe. Broader access to technology initial production in the Wynright to has aend-user multi-pronged plan open communication, clarity with which to approach the future and the resulting rise in online of direction, and through smoothest and fastest way possible. of the business. Expansion is a key supporting our professional relationships with one another, allowing them to stumble, while acknowledging and appreciating North their efforts.”
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part of this, especially within North America, to enable the mutual growth of client-partner relationships for the
| WYNRIGHT America 3 CORPORATION long-term. Outlook issue 06 “Another key priority is to enable client engagement and learning,” Flemings adds. “In this area, we will
Tel: 219.777.2220 www.wynright.com
SHORTER PRODUCT GAPS SIX SCALES COMBINED IN ONE WEIGHING UNIT The HC-FL-T triple scale is certified by NTEP to deliver a weighing accuracy of 50g at transport speeds of 670 feet per minute (3.4 m/s) and process up to 19,000 packages per hour. EMFR technology and Active Vibration Compensation delivers superior weighing accuracy.
Catchweigher HC-FL-T
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Wynright Corporation has told its story. Now, why not tell yours? Our bi-monthly magazine North America Outlook is essential reading for business executives wanting to keep up with the latest in global news and trends affecting US and Canada businesses across all industries. Reaching ever increasing audiences across the continent and beyond, your company can take advantage of this global exposure with a FREE article and FREE digital brochure, as well as access to further digital and print-based marketing tools that could transform your business. To share in this unrivalled opportunity, contact one of our project managers today!
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Complementing the production of North America Outlook, APAC Outlook, EME Outlook and Africa Outlook magazines, Outlook Publishing’s awardwinning in-house team is now utilizing these same
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E D I TO R I A L :
Stephen Giles +44 (0) 1603 363 634 steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com
Phoebe Harper +44 (0) 1603 363 655 phoebe.harper@outlookpublishing.com
Devon Collins +44 (0) 1603 363 656 devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com
Marcus Kääpä +44 (0) 1603 363 653 marcus.kaapa@outlookpublishing.com