to 8 hours usage time depending on truck batteries

Award winners announced at MEGATRANS2022 event

THE Mercury Awards were recently held as part of MEGATRANS2022, a biannual event focusing on the freight and logistics supply chain, which was held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from August 24-26.

These awards aim to recognise the outstanding achievements and successes of companies across the logistics, supply chain and materials handling sectors, with winners announced during a special gala dinner event.

The 2022 Mercury Award winners were:

Gaprie’s P.C.Nets are a sustainable alternative to shrink-wrap. Schneider Electric’s Smart Distribution Centre in Sydney uses its own EcoStruxure technology, to drive end-to-end efficiency for the industrial environment.

Truckies in the trial are fitted out with the vests by research staff at Griffith University.

Complexica

Supply Chain Innovator of the Year winner Complexica is a leading provider of artificial intelligence software applications that can optimise sales, marketing and supply chain decisions, particularly for organisations characterised by a large SKU range and long tail of customers.

To address many wine-production challenges present in different parts of the wine supply chain, Complexica has developed Supply Chain Optimisation & Planning Environment (SCOPE) that can optimise the end-to-end wine supply chain.

Swisslog Australia – CarryStar Fully Automated Order Fulfilment System

Best Technology Application winner Swisslog’s new CarryStar Fully Automated Order Fulfilment System combines Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), KUKA Star Robots and the latest Swisslog SynQ software for optimum efficiency, flexibility, reliability and sustainability.

The scalable and modular CarryStar solution is suitable for small, mid-size and large layer and stack picking operations.

Gaprie Ltd – P.C.Nets

Sustainability Initiative Award winner With an estimated 52,000 tonnes of shrink-wrap used each year, Gaprie has come up with a more sustainable solution in the form of its P.C.Nets, which are a reusable alternative to traditional methods for pallet containment. They are easily pulled down around the product and secured to the bottom of the pallet, with an elasticated edging to ensure a tight fit.

IFC Global Logistics – International Direct to Store Program

Freight Transport Solution of the Year IFC’s advanced International Direct-to-Store model enables customers to place bulk purchase orders with vendors in advance. The opportunity to build up inventory levels from a centralised international distribution centre means goods are readily available for demand fulfilment with complete accuracy. This helps to mitigate challenges associated with production lead time disruptions, as goods can be immediately delivered by the vendor in advance of the shipment window required date.

Schneider Electric – SMART Distribution Centre

Best Storage Solution Schneider Electric is the global specialist in energy management and automation, with operations in over 100 countries. To service Australia and New Zealand region, its warehouse operations in Sydney have undergone massive transformation in the last couple of years. In May 2019, the business successfully completed the digital transformation of its flagship Pacific SMART distribution centre (DC) in Sydney.

Meaghan Siemensma

Contribution to Industry Award Meaghan Siemensma has been dedicated to raising the profile of women in the modern supply chain, as well as the environmental and sustainable work practices throughout the industry. She has served as a mentor for many young supply chain professionals, leading by example to show the diversity of career options in the industry.

Truckies wear special vests for $200k fatigue research

GRIFFITH University has received close to $200,000 in government funding for a research trial that involves truckies sporting special biometric vests, to monitor how fatigue impacts the way they drive.

The vests, normally used by elite athletes, monitor physical responses such as heart rate and breathing rate while driving or resting.

Researchers are hoping that the data they collect can be used to help predict and then stop fatigue-related crashes. The research team involves five senior academics, including an expert on driver fatigue.

A total of $196,524 I funding was provided by the Office of Road Safety, which is part of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications for the project.

The project’s senior research assistant, Dr Caroline Robertson, explained: “Academics from Griffith University identified a need for research exploring psychological, physiological and in-vehicle data monitoring predictors of fatigue in professional drivers. So far no one has examined these three factors in one model of fatigue but we know that they all independently play a part in drowsy driving.”

So far, drivers from Bingo Industries and Toll Group are involved in the trial, which uses Hexoskin biometric vests. Though there are just 40 drivers taking part so far, researchers are hopeful that more truckies will sign up. The goal is to get 250 drivers involved.

Drivers wear the vests for a total of six days: five days driving at work and on one day off so the team can assess how well they recover after a period of work.

“The Hexoskins are biometric shirts which allow us to measure heart rate and breathing responses. This data can give us an indication of how stressed or tired someone is,” Robertson said. “We then overlay this data with the other data we are collecting, the psychological and in-vehicle data, to form a picture of what is happening when a driver is fatigued. In vehicle monitoring data includes things like lane positioning, distance from other vehicles and steering wheel angle.

“Once we have all this data and have undergone the analysis we will be able to inform companies of which factors contribute most to fatigue but occur prior to a safety incident occurring. In other words, we want people to be informed as to what signs to look for before they even set foot behind the wheel so that incidents are prevented.”

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Fatigue Management Solutions

Platinum & Internal Evaporative Cooling System

The Viesa Internals and Platinums are designed for all trucks, 12 or 24 volt options They are the same units but the Internal is fitted to the external back wall of the sleeper cab and the Platinum is fitted to the external roof of the sleeper cab. • Cheap to fit / run (water based) • Quiet to run • Supplied with a remote control • 6 to 8 hours usage time depending on truck batteries • 8 speed fan • Annual servicing is required to keep it running to it’s full potential • 1 year warranty

Fitted Priced From $3,900.00 + GST

The New Viesa Kompressor III

The parking cooler that saves on costs

Fuel saving - The driver doesn’t need to use the truck to let the parking cooler work because VIESA Kompressor III works only with truck batteries

Longer battery life - The new automotive electronics reduce the charge/discharge cycles. This means that batteries have less stress and increase their life

Version III Koolkat 2kW

Whisper Quite

The Koolkat is designed for larger sleeper cabs. The unit comes with 2 x auxiliary batteries and a charger which will charge as the truck is driving It works exceptionally well in all weather conditions, dry or humid Colour matching extra Quietest diesel powered unit on the market

The Ecowind is a diesel powered unit designed for a range of truck types There are a few different fitment styles depending on your truck • Side mount on chassis - Standard fitment • On top of chassis & Rear of chassis - Extra cost

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Truck Art Wagga

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