Sunlight announces new R&D and production capacity increase to meet growing global demand
Sunlight Group’s ambitions to improve lithium-ion and lead-acid battery capacity for the international market will be supported by €275m funding from Greek banks Sunlight Group will use the funds to upgrade facilities in Greece, Italy, and America, support global expansion and M&As throughout its supply chain, as well as R&D, focusing on its lithium-ion products The funding is part of Sunlight Group’s wider €560m business plan and investments into the global battery industry – with the company developing one of Europe’s first lithium-ion Gigafactories and trailblazing research into lithium-ion recycling Global technology company Sunlight Group has received €275m in the form of seven-year loans issued by Greek banks, to increase its lithium-ion and lead-acid battery production and R&D, as well as support its international growth to help meet the global demand for greener energy storage solutions. The loans will aid Sunlight Group’s upgrades and expand current production and assembly lines in the company’s facilities in Xanthi (Greece), Verona, (Italy), and North Carolina (USA) to increase the output of both lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries and energy storage systems. Funds will also support further international growth, partly through M&As, as well as R&D into the company’s lithium products, via the “European Battery Innovation” (EuBatIn) project, an “Important Project of Common European Interest” co-funded by the EU that is already under implementation. The loans will contribute to the funding of the €560m five-year business plan Sunlight Group has announced. The plan involves investments into the development of one of Europe’s first lithium-ion battery Gigafactories and R&D into lithium-ion battery recycling. Funds will also support the company’s development of a European-centric supply chain to help reduce the continent’s dependence on Asia and South American supplies. And lastly, they will enhance Sunlight Group’s production of innovative motive power lead-acid battery cells, with the installation of state-of-the-art automated production and assembly lines. As demand continues to increase for lithium-ion batteries, these latest investments will allow Sunlight Group to reduce European and North American dependence on the Asian supply of lithium battery cells and raw materials, at a time where global trade is growing increasingly volatile. Commenting on the signing of the loan agreements Lampros Bisalas, CEO of Sunlight Group, said: “We are heavily investing across our facilities in Greece, Europe, and the US to increase our overall production capacity, as demand for lithium-ion batteries, in particular, continues to outstrip supply. These additional funds will give us the necessary support to address global challenges to lithium supply, as well as the continued R&D required to make lithium-ion batteries the most energy-efficient, cost-effective, and viable green energy solution on the international market.” The €275m loan agreements comprise a €125m syndicated loan from Eurobank and Alpha Bank (€62.5m each) and a €150m loan from the National Bank of Greece.
It’s time to get over our obsession with immediate results
What does losing weight, learning to play an instrument, and growing a company all have in common? They take time. Often, a lot of time. However, we are in an age of instant gratification. Whether due to advances in technology, or a decline in our attention span, the drive to get results faster has sped up to an almost breakneck pace. And what’s the drawback to this? We dismiss new ideas and opportunities too early and shortchange their ability to deliver transformative outcomes. Take, for example, something simple like a marketing campaign. The team takes weeks to put together a concept, develop materials, launch it, and then a couple of weeks go by and the “numbers” aren’t reaching expectations. The campaign is quietly dropped into the dustbin. Is this the right move? I’d argue, it’s not – and for two reasons. One, time is usually arbitrary. In this scenario, what are you really going to know in two weeks? Ok, two weeks is too short. How about four weeks? Twelve weeks? Fifty-six weeks? What timeframe is the right timeframe? Do a quick Google search and you’ll find articles that say one week, others will say 45 days, as some research shows that 45 days is about how long it takes a consumer to retain and recall information. That’s a huge swing in time. Yes, the organizational leaders want to see results, and they don’t want to throw money out the window. Yes, they should have a clear understanding of the goals of the campaign, and how it’s performing against those goals. But time shouldn’t be the determinate – those goals should be. If the campaign is making progress towards the goal, but just maybe not as fast as you’d like, is it still valuable? Time shouldn’t be the only measure of success, and many times initiatives that are more complex and complicated than a simple campaign, require a lot more time for a consumer or an employee to digest. Two, time provides the opportunity for learning. Let’s go back to our campaign example. We launch it and wait our proverbial forty-five days. It hasn’t reached the goal. The decision point here isn’t to determine whether to kill the campaign or not but to understand the WHAT. What is working and what is not. Why it’s working (or not working) so the campaign can be adjusted, re-evaluated, and in turn, reset the proverbial timeline. Learning is a process, and no matter how seasoned your campaign development team is, they need time to learn. The more time they have to evaluate and assess the campaign, the better their ability to understand its performance on a deeper level, aside from clicks or engagement traffic. This also helps them develop better future campaigns, rather than being focused on quick-win, shock, and awe efforts that only meet the timeline objectives. The reality is that we have to get things done. This is always tied to time. This deadline, that deadline. However, if we continue to expect results faster and faster, we eventually cross the line of “reasonable expectations” and lose the opportunity to learn in the process. Is faster and quicker better? Well, don’t forget, slow and steady wins the race. About the Author: Andrea Belk Olson is a keynote speaker, author, differentiation strategist, behavioral scientist, and customer-centricity expert. As the CEO of Pragmadik, she helps organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to Fortune 500, and has served as an outside consultant for EY and McKinsey. Andrea is the author of The Customer Mission: Why it’s time to cut the $*&% and get back to the business of understanding customers, No Disruptions: The future for mid-market manufacturing, and her upcoming book, What To Ask, coming in June 2022. She is a 4-time ADDY® award winner and host of the popular Customer Mission podcast. Her thoughts have been continually featured in news sources such as Chief Executive Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Harvard Business Review, Rotman Magazine, and more. Andrea is a sought-after speaker at conferences and corporate events throughout the world. She is a visiting lecturer and startup coach at the University of Iowa, a TEDx presenter, and TEDx speaker coach. She is also an instructor at the University of Iowa Venture School. More information is also available on www.pragmadik.com and www.andreabelkolson.com.
Storage Solutions announces the acquisition of SNC Solutions
The Storage Solutions Inc. (SSI) Board of Directors has officially approved the acquisition of California-based SNC Solutions (SNC). The purchase will give Storage Solutions additional resources and capabilities to grow its business along the West Coast, given SNC’s expertise in the market and special requirements in that region. SNC Solutions was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The company specializes in designing and implementing systems that facilitate the highest levels of efficiency for warehouse operations. With a focus on improving these capabilities and efficiencies, SNC delivers solutions that maximize operations’ effectiveness and overall performance by enhancing flow, ergonomics, throughput, and quality. “We are excited to continue to grow, expand, and improve our capabilities for our clients throughout North America,” explained Nathan Storey, President of Storage Solutions. “Culturally, the team at SNC is a great fit for Storage Solutions because they have the same dedication to supplying clients with a true turnkey experience and creating innovative solutions for storage and fulfillment.” As dynamics along the supply chain continue to change rapidly, the need for warehouses, distribution centers, and fulfillment centers to adapt how they store and fulfill orders continues to grow. As more companies are maximizing their storage and fulfillment efforts, adding SNC to Storage Solutions will give the company a deeper understanding of customers’ complexities, particularly in the Pacific region. “This strategic acquisition will allow Storage Solutions to expand our geographic presence and service capabilities and give us more dynamic capabilities to drive efficiencies for our team and our clients,” said Eric McDonald, Chief Customer Officer at Storage Solutions. “I am excited to have Tim Schrader, Drake Kelley, and the rest of SNC as part of Storage Solutions’ growing team.” “The SNC team is very excited to join Storage Solutions! From my initial introduction through the completion of the merger, SSI and its ownership partners have proven to be a natural fit for talent, future goals, and most importantly, culture. I am beyond proud of the SNC name and the company that we have built. I am equally proud to adopt the SSI name as the platform to build the next phase of our mutual success on. This endeavor only adds to the existing capabilities, reach, and improved customer experience that we strive for every day,” explained Tim Schrader, Senior Vice President at Storage Solutions. “Apart, both companies are successful in their own right. Together we are truly great.”
BSLBATT delivers over 200 Lithium Batteries to customers of a large Industrial Battery Distributor
BSLBATT Battery is one of the largest lithium-ion forklift battery suppliers in China, and their partner-customer recently completed the assembly of an entire fleet for a large distribution center. BSLBATT Battery has announced the completion of a huge deal with a major industrial forklift battery distributor. With its BSLBATT® modular technology, BSLBATT is powering material handling equipment for new centers spanning over 950,000 square feet. The company has ordered more than 205 counterbalance forklifts and Narrow Aisle Forklifts batteries since last year. In the long run, only one lithium-ion battery is required per device, compared to the usual two, if not three, lead-acid batteries. In addition to requiring a significant portion of the area to be used for lead-acid battery storage, this route would likely require 410-615 lead-acid batteries. The decision to choose a BSLBATT electric forklift lithium battery eliminated a lot of battery, storage, and maintenance. Conclusion: For multi-shift operation, Use Lithium-Ion Forklift Batteries While at the LOGIMAT 2022 trade show this year, a representative from the company stopped by the BSLBATT booth and shared greater-than-expected results from the implementation. It was stated that due to the energy efficiencies of the new lithium battery systems; they had achieved more electrical savings than originally planned! The new facility had implemented several new efficiency systems, like the lithium forklift batteries, which overall had saved so much electricity they were not using enough power to justify the grid installed. The usage would not pay for the grid and created a “problem”. Of course, this “problem” would be quickly resolved by having other companies locate in the new industrial zone and allow utilization of the new power grid. Having this “problem” was beneficial and something which they hope to duplicate in the future BSLBATT® forklift truck lithium batteries provide numerous advantages over the traditional lead acid. Some of the major benefits of these systems include: needing one battery per piece of equipment, maintenance-free – no watering and no equalizing needed, saving space with no need for a charging room, providing higher equipment performance, no need to swap batteries, and reducing the environmental impact. If your company is considering the purchase of a forklift or a fleet of forklifts, you have several decisions to make, including capacity, application fit, vehicle dimensions and lift. But arguably, one of the biggest decisions you will have to make is how to power the forklift – in other words, gas-powered or electric? And if you pick an electric forklift – what technology will your forklift batteries use? Please refer to the chart below to help you choose the right energy source! Converting from lead-acid batteries to lithium-ion batteries Yes, it is possible to convert your forklift fleet from Lead-acid to Li-ion batteries. The biggest consideration is weight. Most counterbalanced forklifts include the weight of the battery as a parameter for determining load capacity. With a lighter-weight Li-ion battery it will be necessary to add counterweights to maintain the nameplate capacity of the forklift or change the specified lifting capacity to accommodate the lighter Li-ion battery. Another consideration is culture change. To get the most out of a Li-ion battery, operators need to be trained to rigorously employ opportunity charging. Whenever the forklift is going to be idled for a significant amount of time, remember to plug it in! BSLBATT also provides complete Battery & Charger Maintenance Services. Lastly, provisions need to be made for end-of-life disposal. Currently, there is a well-developed recycling industry for lead-acid batteries. Not so much for Li-ion batteries, although that is changing. Most fleet operators have noticed a significant improvement in productivity by making the switch from Lead-acid to Li-ion batteries. BSLBATT can help your company with all aspects of employing Li-ion-powered forklifts battery. We stock the full line of Li-ion forklifts battery from Hyster-Yale, Crown, Toyota, Manitou, Clark, Raymond, Combilift, Jungheinrich, Doosan, Linde, Nissan, Hyundai, Caterpillar, JCB, Bobcat, KION group, UNICARRIERS, KOMATSU, HELI, HANGCHA, BYD, and Mitsubishi. And, if you’re making the switch from lead-acid to Li-ion batteries for your existing fleet of forklifts, we have availability of a large range of Li-ion batteries to fit almost any material handling need. Additionally, we offer training for handling lead-acid batteries–if you’re sticking with the tried and true–or on proper handling of Li-ion batteries. We also offer training for your staff if you’re making the switch from lead-acid to Li-ion. Interested in Upgrading Your Fleet? It’s time to reduce labor costs and increase operational efficiency!
EP 292: Autostore at MODEX 2022
Joining me for this week’s podcast from the booth at MODEX 2022 is Mark Hasler, Business Development Manager at Autostore. With over 900 global installations, Autostore is a goods-to-persons automated storage retrieval system (AS/RS). Autostore’s unique cube storage automation allows organizations to maximize space and utilize nontraditional warehouse space to serve their customers. Key Takeaways Mark discusses a future in which the consumer directly interacts with the AS/RS system. The pandemic has forced retailers to find ways to get goods to customers faster. Autostore’s compact size allows retailers to move closer to the consumer by utilizing smaller spaces such as strip malls or retail locations. Autostore provides an exciting solution when warehouse space is scarce and expensive. For warehouses busting at the seams, Autostore allows them to operate in a much smaller warehouse footprint. In some cases, implementing Autostore resulted in a 75% reduction in footprint by eliminating aisles and shelves. We also discuss an actual “lights out” solution through future integration of Autostore’s cube storage automation and robotic picking. The potential here is fascinating as organizations look to support growth while navigating labor challenges. In some potential future cases, we may see the customer actually do the picking from an Autostore system at a retail location. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 292: Autostore at MODEX 2022
Container Dwell Fee on hold through July 1
The San Pedro Bay ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles will once again delay consideration of the “Container Dwell Fee” for another week, this time until July 1st. Since the program was announced on Oct. 25, the two ports have seen a combined decline of 31% in aging cargo on the docks. The executive directors of both ports will reassess fee implementation after monitoring data over the next week. Fee implementation has been postponed by both ports since the start of the program. The Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners have both extended the fee program through July 28. Under the temporary policy, ocean carriers can be charged for each import container dwelling nine days or more at the terminal. Currently, no date has been set to start the count with respect to container dwell time. The ports plan to charge ocean carriers $100 per container, increasing in $100 increments per container per day until the container leaves the terminal. Any fees collected from dwelling cargo will be reinvested for programs designed to enhance efficiency, accelerate cargo velocity and address congestion impacts. The policy was developed in coordination with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and multiple supply chain stakeholders.
Nucor completes acquisition of C.H.I. Overhead Doors
Nucor Corporation has announced that it has completed its acquisition of C.H.I. Overhead Doors (C.H.I.) from KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR) for $3.0 billion. C.H.I. is a manufacturer of overhead doors for residential and commercial markets in the United States and Canada. “We are very excited to welcome our C.H.I. teammates to the Nucor team,” said Leon Topalian, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nucor Corporation. “They have built a tremendous business with strong growth prospects that is a natural fit with our capabilities. We look forward to working with their senior management team to execute the next phase of growth for C.H.I. and Nucor.” “For all C.H.I. teammates and dealer partners, the opportunity to be part of Nucor going forward offers great potential for continued growth, supply-chain continuity, and new business collaboration,” said Dave Bangert, who has served as CEO of C.H.I. since 2016 and will continue to lead the business. “This is an exciting day for everyone associated with C.H.I. as we aspire to be a vibrant member of the Nucor family living our collective culture.” C.H.I. manufactures overhead door products for residential and commercial applications, as well as rolling steel and rubber doors for commercial and industrial customers. The company has approximately 800 teammates across two manufacturing plants in Arthur, Illinois, and Terre Haute, Indiana, and regional warehouses located in California, Colorado, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.
MHEDA members mourns Evelyn McWilliams
The Material Handling Equipment Distributor Association (MHEDA) is mourning the passing of Evelyn McWilliams. She passed away on Sunday, June 19th at the age of 80. In an email sent to members, MHEDA CEO Liz Richards said, “Many of you knew Evelyn who was a loyal and dedicated team member at MHEDA for many years. I worked with Evelyn from 1995 until her retirement in 2007. She was an enormous help to so many of us; she loved MHEDA, its members, and her co-workers. We learned this week that she passed away on Sunday.” On behalf of the staff at Material Handling Wholesaler and Material Handling Network, we send prayers to the McWilliams family and the MHEDA members. Evelyn was a huge asset to MHEDA and the material handling industry. Here is a link to her obituary.
Don’t tolerate fog and UV rays – Spike Them!
Brass Knuckle®’s new Spike (BKADJ-5060AFP) eye protection combines a two-pronged strategy for vision protection with a legion of comfort features for the ultimate in customizable, long-wear glasses. Check out this abundance of leading features: the best anti-fog protection in the world, the highest UV protection available, and custom comfort at the temples, nose, and brow. As part of Brass Knuckle’s new anti-fog collection, of course, Spike has BK-Anti-Fog+. It’s a groundbreaking technology that’s fused directly to the lens, not simply sprayed on, to deliver better and longer-lasting fog-free protection than that of competitive anti-fog coated products. The toughest anti-fog standard in the world is the EN 166/168 standard, and this crushes it. Add to that ANSI Z87.1/U6 ultraviolet protection, the highest standard in the world, to eliminate 99.99% of damaging UV rays. This is one Spike that’s great for the eyes! Finally, loads of extra features create an easily customizable fit for virtually any face. The star of the show is a five-step angle-adjustable temple. Earpieces ratchet up and down with a five-click adjustable temple joint for the ultimate in a custom fit. It has to be seen to be believed. Also, floating, reinforced-rubber nosepieces conform to the bridge of the nose, an integrated soft brow guard brings greater fit, and soft rubber at the ends of earpieces adds extra flexibility and all-day wearability. Plus, the rimless lenses and green/black zebra striping look plain cool. With Spike, workers never have to sacrifice style for the ultimate in custom comfort and protection.
Johnson Controls and Accenture join forces on new AI-enabled OpenBlue Innovation Centers
Johnson Controls and Accenture will deliver two new Johnson Controls OpenBlue Innovation Centers seeding further development of AI-enabled building control system products and services. The focus will be on developing new hardware and software built around 5G and IoT, adding greater system connectivity, control, and visualization for building environments. The new solutions will accelerate carbon reduction in buildings as part of ongoing investment by Johnson Controls in net-zero buildings to promote better occupant health, safety and security. Accenture and Johnson Controls, the global provider of smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, are collaborating to deliver and operate two new OpenBlue Innovation Centers. The centers will drive Johnson Controls’ rollout of building control system products and services using technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, and the cloud. The goal is to accelerate advanced automation in building operations to achieve greater sustainability, safety, security, and user experiences. Johnson Controls OpenBlue is an AI-enabled suite of connected solutions and services that integrates with customers’ operational technology. The system collects and primes data from buildings and applies machine learning at the edge and in the cloud—comparing the data against optimized AI performance models. The result is the ability to micro-manage real-time building performance, saving cost and energy as well as enhancing environments. “We have a fantastic opportunity to accelerate carbon reduction in buildings by weaving in new features built on advanced technology into OpenBlue, further enabling our customers to achieve their sustainability targets,” says Vijay Sankaran, Johnson Controls chief technology officer. “Accenture’s expertise in platform engineering, integration, and sustainability will help us to deliver these enhanced capabilities faster—accelerating how quickly we can cut emissions, energy, and cost out of projects and helping our customers to reduce their operational costs sooner.” Accenture will assist Johnson Controls by implementing leading-edge technologies on the OpenBlue platform. This includes AI-driven analytics to optimize space utilization, O2 vs. CO2 saturation in airflows, as well as infectious disease risks and other environmental information. Digital twins will be used to enable Johnson Controls to model, analyze, and make decisions on maintenance, upgrades, and sustainability—replacing physical prototypes to help reduce resource use, carbon emissions, cost, and time to market. 5G and IoT will also be used for faster and higher capacity data transmission, with remote management and control of connected devices. “The better and more sustainable we can make buildings—the smarter, more attractive, healthier and efficient they will become—and the better they will be for people and our planet,” said Peter Lacy, Accenture’s global Sustainability Services lead and chief responsibility officer. “It’s about creating environments focused on well-being and productivity of occupants while protecting the environment of our planet. Digitizing building operations is an essential first step toward these goals.” With around 40 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions globally generated by the building sector, research from Accenture found that technology such as digital twins, digital replicas of physical assets or processes, can cut energy use and carbon emissions in half. Further evidence from Accenture research found that companies with a higher sustainability performance—across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indicators—perform better financially. “Companies should not have to make trade-offs between their business and sustainability goals, and an effective technology strategy can address this,” said Paul Daugherty, Accenture’s group chief executive—Technology and chief technology officer. “Together with Johnson Controls, we will harness technology in new ways, use effective ESG measurement tools and engage the power of ecosystems to solve environmental problems within the building environment.” The new OpenBlue Innovation Centers, opening in Bangalore and Hyderabad, are aligned with Johnson Controls’ innovation in building technology and the strong Johnson Controls network of OpenBlue Innovation Centers across the globe.
Tranzonic hires Chris Adams as VP of Supply Chain
The Tranzonic Companies, a respected manufacturer of cleaning, maintenance, and personal protection products, has named Chris Adams its new vice president of the supply chain. Adams brings a quarter-century of experience in business-to-business distribution to the role. He has successfully led cross-functional teams in sales, marketing, supply chain, cost-to-serve analytics, and operations to consistently achieve breakthrough performance in profit and revenue. At Tranzonic, Adams will lead the inventory management and logistics teams while also imparting his expertise to operations and system integration. “The global supply chain has experienced a seismic shift the likes of which we’ve never seen,” said Tom Friedl, CEO. “With his history of innovation, I know Chris is the leader to build on Tranzonic’s successes and keep us thriving in this changing landscape.” In his 25-year career, Adams has held senior executive positions with Fortune 500, global, and multi-billion dollar companies. He has been recognized for breakthrough work in distribution, measurement systems, value chain mapping, data analytics, and innovative collaborative strategies. His work has been recognized by Harvard Business Press Balanced Scorecard Report and Harvard Business Review. An early success came with his role on the innovative marketing team that helped develop the retail market for the now gold-standard PURELL® Instant Hand Sanitizer brand. “Navigating today’s supply chain challenges demands creative thinking, solid strategy, and collaboration,” said Adams. “Working with the foundation already in place, I look forward to working with my new Tranzonic team to develop and implement profitable new strategies.” Adams is an advisor to the State of Georgia’s Center of Innovation and Logistics. He also serves as chairman of Marquette University’s Center of Supply Chain Management executive board. He was a summa cum laude graduate of Benedictine University and leads strategy development on their alumni board. Adams is a sought-after speaker at national and international programs including McDonald’s Hamburger University, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, Palladium’s International Balanced Scorecard Symposium, and multiple international seminars on business forecasting. He has pioneered unique collaborative business planning and modeling processes for manufacturers and distributors including the use of strategy mapping and lean six sigma.
Building a Top-Tier Automation Controls Team, AMT promotes Arthur J. Kahler to Director – Controls Engineering
Applied Manufacturing Technologies promotes Engineering Manager Arthur J. Kahler to Director – Controls Engineering, citing his contributions and hands-on leadership approach Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), North America’s largest independent automation engineering company supporting warehousing and logistics, robot companies, system integrators, line builders, and users of robotic automation worldwide, has announced the promotion of Arthur J. Kahler to Director – Controls Engineering. “Arthur Kahler has demonstrated a hands-on leadership approach to help AMT continue building the industry’s top talent in Controls. His recent promotion to Director – Controls Engineering brings significant strength to our team by providing a highly interactive leadership style to both our customers and teammates,” said Chief Operating Officer Craig Salvalaggio. “Arthur strives to build AMT’s team to be the top in the industry, all with a humble approach to leading people.” In response to his contributions to AMT and its strategic growth plan, Engineering Manager Arthur J. Kaher has been promoted to Director – Controls Engineering. In his new role, Kahler will continue to advance the sales and execution teams as the company transitions to a new generation of leadership. Kahler joined AMT as Senior Engineer – Controls Leader in 2020, bringing more than ten years of experience to the position. In his two and a half years at AMT, Kahler has had a positive influence on the staff of 70 engineers he works with. Kahler commented, “My favorite thing about AMT is the team culture. Everyone is willing to jump in and help and I always feel very supported by my co-workers.” A FANUC Authorized System Integrator and three-time winner of the FANUC Sales Growth Award, AMT offers full-service systems integration, specializing in end-of-line solutions, complex material handling systems, and engineering support such as turnkey industrial controls, robotic programming, and automation consulting. Bringing together best-in-class technologies and custom automation, AMT provides high-quality, cost-effective automation solutions. The company’s solutions have benefited manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, medical, alternative energy, fabricated metal, industrial machinery, rubber and plastics, food and beverage, and many other industries.
NAW Partners with Juncos Hollinger Racing
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is excited to announce a new partnership with Juncos Hollinger Racing (JHR). NAW will be on board the No. 77 JHR Chevrolet driven by NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie Callum Ilott for the remainder of the 2022 season. “It’s an honor to be part of the first-of-its-kind association partnership with Juncos Hollinger Racing,” said Eric Hoplin, NAW CEO. “As a Washington, DC-based association with members across the country, we look forward to delivering valuable membership engagement outside the beltway through this immersive racing program. Our members will network and witness first-hand the speed of execution excellence demonstrated by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.” NAW members will receive unique access to the JHR team during race events this year to showcase the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and build business relationships through motorsports. JHR will participate in the association’s events to engage members and build awareness about the team and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. “We are excited to partner with NAW and showcase the incredible business value of motorsports partnerships,” said Ricardo Juncos, Co-owner and Team Principal of JHR. “Our team benefits from great distributors. I want to thank NAW for coming on board the No. 77 JHR Chevrolet, and look to building a great relationship throughout this season and onward.”
MasterMover enhances SmartMover Electric Tugger Range with SM200+ launch & SM100+ upgrade
MasterMover Inc, the world manufacturer of electric tugger solutions, has unveiled a major investment in its industrial product range with the launch of the SmartMover SM200+, offering a pull and push movement for loads of up to 4,400 lbs. In addition, the company has released a new version of its SM100+ model, offering a capacity of up to 2,600 lbs. The release of both products represents an increase in capability, features, and functionality within the SmartMover product suite, which forms part of the MasterMover Compact range of machines. Both the SM100+ and SM200+ feature hydraulic coupling for maximizing load security, with MasterMover’s standard array of safety features included, such as an easily accessible anti-crush button and intuitive user controls. Slow and faster speed selector options give operators additional control of loads when operating in enclosed spaces. Both products feature 180-degree steering for precision movement, while the interchangeable sealed battery pack gives operators a simple method of ensuring near-zero downtime. The SM100+ and SM200+ are designed to work in challenging environments, with anti-puncture, non-marking tires designed to maximize traction and both products feature the capability to operate in sloping and uneven floor environments. “MasterMover is committed to supporting our global customer base, and we have done just that with the launch of the SM200+ and SM100+ upgrade,” said Hugh Freer, President, MasterMover Inc. “Our SmartMover machines are used around the world, and the introduction of the SM200+ now gives our customers a fantastic option when needing a compact, easy-to-use and highly maneuverable solution, capable of moving up to 4,400 lbs. “We’re also pleased to release the latest SM100+, which enhances a product that has played a crucial role in driving safe and efficient material handling around the world for many years.” MasterMover works with companies across manufacturing, retail, and logistics, offering a complete range of pedestrian-operated, remote-controlled, and fully autonomous (AGV) electric tugger solutions. The company’s products are used across many applications in industries such as automotive, aerospace, energy, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, by world-leading brands. The company operates globally, with customers across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
Emerging Brands Summit launches at PACK EXPO International
The brand-new Emerging Brands Summit, produced by PMMI Media Group, will launch at PACK EXPO International 2022 (Oct. 23-26; McCormick Place, Chicago). This one-day event will feature educational content and tabletop exhibits aimed to assist startup manufacturing companies to grow their operations. Taking place October 23, 2022, at Chicago’s McCormick Place, this new program is for founders and leaders of startup manufacturing companies looking to scale their brand to larger production through either in-house facility build-out or outsourced relationships with contract manufacturers and packagers. Exhibitors will include suppliers of packaging machinery, packaging materials, processing equipment, and contract manufacturing and packaging services. The agenda and speakers will be announced soon. Attendees can sign up for event updates and be notified as speakers are added. Event content is specifically designed for: Companies evaluating in-house and outsourced manufacturing and packaging solutions Founders of high-growth emerging brands looking to scale operations Leaders of product development, operations, or finance “With so much change in the industry over the last few years and the increase in e-commerce and consumer demand in every industry vertical, we felt that it was important to launch a program that can serve as a roadmap to help companies take their operations to the next level,” says Kim Overstreet, director, Emerging Brands Community. “Now more than ever, brands need support and adequate resources to keep up with the rapidly growing demands they are facing.” Emerging Brands Summit registrants will enjoy full access to PACK EXPO International 2022, produced by PMMI, The Association for Packaging & Processing Technologies; the largest packaging and processing show of the year featuring 2,000+ exhibitors across 40+ verticals, including: Packaging and processing Automation and robotics Materials and containers Digital printing and labeling Supply chain solutions “The Emerging Brands Summit could not have come at a better time for our industry and PACK EXPO International offers the perfect platform to launch this critical program,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, of PMMI. “We are excited to reunite the industry in Chicago for the first time in four years and the Emerging Brands Summit is a great value-add as we continue to provide as many resources to the industry as possible.” The Emerging Brands Marketplace will consist of tabletop exhibits and will be open to attendees throughout the program and during the networking reception. By participating in the Emerging Brands Summit, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with preferred vendors across processing equipment; packaging machinery; packaging materials and containers; and contract manufacturing and packaging services. Emerging Brands Summit attendees are also invited to display a sample of their product – or a prototype or similar product – at the Product + Solution Showcase located adjacent to the Emerging Brands Summit Marketplace. The Showcase offers a destination for sharing physical product details with peers, solution providers, and experts who can help solve manufacturing and packaging challenges. Additionally, registrants to the Emerging Brands Summit have free access to Braindate – a web-based meeting platform that facilitates knowledge sharing between attendees and/or solution providers. Braindate makes it easy to schedule in-person conversations on specific topics between relevant professionals. “Frain Industries is honored to be a Platinum Sponsor of the new Emerging Brands Summit! With current market trends, there can be some unknowns when investing in machinery,” says Clair Frain, Marketing Manager at Frain Industries. “Frain’s rental program for packaging and processing machinery makes us an ideal partner for emerging brands and growing CPG companies. The Emerging Brands Summit promises exceptional educational and networking opportunities for professionals who are ready to take their operations to the next level.” The Emerging Brands Alliance; a year-round resource for the emerging brand’s community will also launch this fall. As part of this initiative, the Emerging Brands Grants program can help growing CPG companies scale their operations by providing funds for operational expenses. Grants can be used to enable a variety of projects and resources, such as prototype creation, market research, legal and consultant services, creation of pitch materials for investors, exhibiting fees, custom packaging for e-commerce, and much more. To be eligible for an Emerging Brands Grant, applicants must produce and distribute a packaged consumer product in the U.S. and/or Canada and have annual revenues of at least $100,000 USD but not more than $20 million USD. A total of three $20,000 grants will be awarded, one each in the following categories: Certified minority or women-owned company Self-manufacturing company Any eligible company The grant application, review, and award timeline is as follows: June 15 – Sept. 15, 2022 – Applications accepted Sept. 15 –25, 2022 – Applications reviewed Sept. 25, 2022 – Finalists notified Oct. 23, 2022 – Grants awarded at the Emerging Brands Summit The Emerging Brands Summit will take place in tandem with the PACK EXPO International trade show. Registration for the Emerging Brands Summit is within the PACK EXPO International registration site. By purchasing a registration for the Emerging Brands Summit, attendees will automatically receive a complimentary registration for PACK EXPO International and can attend all four days of the trade show (Oct. 23 -26). To learn more and to register, visit emergingbrandssummit.com. Registration for the Emerging Brands Summit is $195 until Sept. 30, after which it increases to $295. To learn more and to register for PACK EXPO International, visit packexpointernational.com. Registration for the show is $30 until Sept. 30, after which it increases to $130.
Orbis and Milwaukee Festival Inc. continue partnership to increase sustainability efforts at Summerfest
ORBIS® Corporation, an international reusable supply chain packaging provider, is continuing as the Official Sustainability Partner of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (MWF), the producer of Summerfest, “The World’s Largest Music Festival.” For the second year of this partnership, ORBIS will supply an additional 130 recycling bins to be used all season at ethnic and cultural festivals, public gatherings, concerts, and private corporate events at Henry Maier Festival Park. With this addition, ORBIS has supplied 260 recycling bins for use across the grounds. “Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. is proud to continue this partnership with ORBIS and increase recycling efforts throughout the 75 acres of Henry Maier Festival Park,” said Don Smiley, CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. MWF maintains and improves Henry Maier Festival Park, located along the shores of Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Each year, the park has an average of 1.3 million visitors. Commencing last year, the initial sponsorship represented the start of a partnership with MWF focused on sustainability and recycling. In year one, the partnership placed 130 recycling bins for cups, silverware, and other single-use plastic waste throughout the festival grounds. This year, ORBIS and MWF added another 130 recycling bins and plan to continue expanding educational programming around recycling in years to come. “As a steward of sustainability, ORBIS is committed to helping customers reduce their overall environmental impact,” said Breanna Herbert, product manager and sustainability lead at ORBIS. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. and look forward to seeing the sustained positive environmental impact this project will have on our community.” Beyond this partnership, ORBIS has a strong focus on recyclability. For example, 100% of ORBIS’ core products are made with recycled content and, at the end of their service life, reusable pallets, totes, and bins can be fully recycled into other useful products. Its Recycle with ORBIS program is designed to efficiently recover, recycle and reprocess packaging products at the end of their service life, preventing them from entering the solid waste stream.
Staffing employment bounces back after Memorial Day
Staffing employment increased in the week of June 6–12, returning to a rounded value of 106 after dipping over the Memorial Day holiday. Increasing 1.7% from the previous week, the ASA Staffing Index set a new record for the month of June. Several staffing companies cited temporary-to-hire conversions or a shortage of available candidates as factors preventing further growth. Staffing jobs were up 9.6% from the same week last year. New starts grew in the 23rd week of the year, rising 19.4% from the prior week. About two in three staffing companies reported gains in new assignments week-to-week. The ASA Staffing Index four-week moving average inched down from the prior week but held at a rounded value of 106, as temporary and contract staffing employment for the four weeks ending June 12 was 10.4% higher than the same period in 2021. “Staffing employment remains at historic levels,” said Tim Hulley, ASA assistant director of research. “Fierce competition for talent has translated to sustained demand for staffing and recruiting services.” This week, containing the 12th day of the month will be used in the June monthly employment situation report scheduled to be issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 8. The ASA Staffing Index is reported nine days after each workweek, making it a near real-time measure of staffing employment trends. ASA Staffing Starts is the number of temporary and contract employees placed in new assignments during the reporting week. ASA research shows that staffing employment has historically been a coincident economic indicator. For more information, visit americanstaffing.net/index. Or follow ASA research on Twitter.
Why non-recruiters are the best recruiters you have
Not every recruiter can be an engineer, or hair stylist, or accountant. They know how to hire these roles, but not how to become them. On the flip side, it’s not as hard for every employee to act as a recruiter. In fact, recruiting power in each employee is often unrealized because we’re so busy relying on recruiters to be the only ones recruiting. There was an incredible program once developed for the service industry. Every manager in this company went through training to both spot and learn how to engage with potential candidates. A calling card was available to hand out to potential superstars and managers could facilitate an introduction to a recruiter. The candidate would always get a call and the managers received a referral bonus if there was a connection with the candidate – even if they were not hired. The company paid managers for this time, and with a 20% success rate, a fruitful pipeline of high-quality candidates emerged. What they learned was that just giving out the cards wasn’t enough – managers needed the training to know what to look for! They needed a little of that magical recruiter eye. If a 20% success rate using resources you already have isn’t convincing enough, here are six more reasons why non-recruiters are the best recruiters you have: They far surpass your post and pray method. We know a lot of recruiters do this – get the generic job ad posted everywhere, then wait. You may get hundreds of applications, but most of them are not the right fit or don’t have the right experience. You end up spending heaps of time reading resumes that are not the right fit. This is not a strategic approach (or an effective one!). You need to do more than passively wait for people to come to you and investing in your untapped recruiting potential is a fantastic way to build your pipeline of better candidates. Your employees, hiring managers, and top performers have a very clear idea of who they want to work beside and what it takes to be successful at your company. Once they know what roles you’re hiring for, give them tools to help you – train them on how to be a recruiter so everyone is looking for talent that makes the workday, the product, and the customer experience better. Everyone wins when you do this and you become less fixated on referral rewards, and more excited about the benefit of the team. Don’t lose sight of that recognition for their efforts to help with recruiting – it is important too. It may not be as motivating to get the right talent if you’re offering a bonus for the volume of resumes over spotted potential talent. You can motivate and inspire your own team helping find key talent in personal and visible ways. Who wouldn’t want to be celebrated for their part in building a great workplace for themselves and their peers? One way to do this is to share broadly the talent each employee has brought into the team and thank them for it. Thank them in front of the company and through gestures that don’t come with strings – this means you shouldn’t hold referral bonuses for months on end to see if the new person works out. Their job was to bring someone amazing into the organization and they did that! If you can work fast to meet these candidates the non-recruiters bring you, they will want to do it more and feel more credible wearing their recruiting hat. You may need to update your processes to be able to move faster to connect with this spotted talent. Don’t make them go through a long process or wonder if you’re going to get back to someone. This will not encourage them to bring you more superstars. Be ready to follow up with every single person the non-recruiters spot and refer! If they have the time, they can be very effective. Think about the value of giving them one hour away from their day job to find you two more top performers like them. Giving the non-recruiters time to act as recruiters means paid time, or extra time paid to do this work that is so valuable. Asking people to do work that is not in scope is a terrible experience and does not entice them to say nice things about your brand or the culture. It suggests you don’t value their time! Think about a few hours per week that they can be compensated to call people, go on LinkedIn to ask people if they are interested, or follow up with their professional associations. It will go a long way and help them feel good about helping in this effort. They don’t need a lot to feel appreciated. Make sure you have a planned approach to show them that you value their effort and that you are happy to have them helping bring the best people to join you. Beyond the splashy recognition that you can get into, take notice of the simple things in being thankful for their effort. They are giving their time and expertise to the process and learning how to be a non-recruiter does take a little bit of investment. Spend your money on a solid program that is easy to work with, give time and resources to the training, and help your employees develop the skills to look for what you need – it’s an easy way to show appreciation for the huge scale you can get in your recruiting efforts. As with all programs, you need every stakeholder to be on board for it to be successful. While you’re investing in great programs and recognition for this stretch role outside of the recruiting team, make sure your recruiters are on board with the plans. They are the best teachers and advocates to help make this a success, but they can also derail your efforts mightily. Don’t
KEEN Utility Women’s San Jose Waterproof work boot
New for Summer 2022, KEEN Utility updates the brand’s fan-favorite women’s San Jose work boot, built for the unique fit needs of today’s tradeswoman. Now available in a waterproof option, this all-leather work boot works hard from clock-in to clock-out and beyond and offers the safety, performance, and comfort features the brand is known for. A KEEN.LUFT cell comfort midsole provides air-infused comfort with nearly 100,000 air bubbles per cubic centimeter providing all-day comfort and helping to reduce foot fatigue over time. The boot features an EH-rated, slip-resistant outsole that disperses liquids underfoot quickly for better surface area contact satisfying ASTM and SATRA non-slip testing standards. The San Jose also features a roomier toe box and unobtrusive, asymmetrical aluminum safety toe caps that are 35% lighter than steel. Leveraging the insights and real work experience from women across multiple trades and backgrounds, the San Jose is part of the KEEN Utility Tradeswomen Tested program that puts women’s safety styles through their paces from initial concept to production, in the field and on the feet of tradeswomen. The women’s San Jose waterproof work boot is ideal for a variety of indoor and outdoor work environments including warehouses, transportation, light manufacturing, and carpentry
U.S. Rail Traffic for the week ending June 18, 2022
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending June 18, 2022. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 501,207 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.5 percent compared with the same week last year. Total carloads for the week ending June 18 were 232,921 carloads, up 0.4 percent compared with the same week in 2021, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 268,286 containers and trailers, down 4.9 percent compared to 2021. Six of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2021. They included grain, up 2,411 carloads, to 22,012; nonmetallic minerals, up 860 carloads, to 32,505; and motor vehicles and parts, up 833 carloads, to 13,366. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2021 included metallic ores and metals, down 2,707 carloads, to 20,915; coal, down 1,539 carloads, to 66,281; and miscellaneous carloads, down 382 carloads, to 8,908. For the first 24 weeks of 2022, U.S. railroads reported a cumulative volume of 5,529,499 carloads, up 0.02 percent from the same point last year; and 6,349,485 intermodal units, down 6.3 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 24 weeks of 2022 was 11,878,984 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 3.5 percent compared to last year. North American rail volume for the week ending June 18, 2022, on 12 reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 328,846 carloads, down 0.8 percent compared with the same week last year, and 353,209 intermodal units, down 4.6 percent compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 682,055 carloads and intermodal units, down 2.8 percent. North American rail volume for the first 24 weeks of 2022 was 16,198,883 carloads and intermodal units, down 3.6 percent compared with 2021. Canadian railroads reported 76,443 carloads for the week, down 0.2 percent, and 70,088 intermodal units, down 2.6 percent compared with the same week in 2021. For the first 24 weeks of 2022, Canadian railroads reported a cumulative rail traffic volume of 3,431,630 carloads, containers, and trailers, down 5.6 percent. Mexican railroads reported 19,482 carloads for the week, down 15.2 percent compared with the same week last year, and 14,835 intermodal units, down 8.2 percent. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 24 weeks of 2022 was 888,269 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 2.1 percent from the same point last year. To view the rail traffic charts, click here.