Bison Pull-Tight™ Gearmotors deliver high-torque performance in harsh environments
Bison Gear & Engineering Corp., a provider in the power transmission industry, announces the Bison Pull-Tight™ gear motor enclosure for demanding outdoor applications subjected to occasional underwater submersion. Originally designed for electric pool covers, the Pull-Tight has proven its exceptional durability in agriculture and many other environments exposed to harsh weather conditions, including flooding. This innovative solution developed by the Bison team of more than 50 engineers in St. Charles, IL, received US Patent 10,320,259 for the design of the enclosure. The shell and fasteners are stainless steel and are enclosed by an extruded silicone sleeve that serves as the main gasket and protects the assembly from the environment. The silicon withstands heat generated by the motor. The aluminum and powder-coated end cap provides an enclosure for the termination, with space for capacitors, magnetic contactors, relays, and other components — all protected from the outdoor environment.
EP 277: MobileDemand at MODEX 2022
In this episode, I was joined by Scott Medford of MobileDemand at MODEX 2022. MobileDemand is focused on taking your tablets to the next level with their rugged cases that include interesting extensions. We discuss MobileDemand and their xDim product at MODEX. Key Takeaways MobileDemand is focused on taking your table to the next level and they work with multiple different types of tablets including iPads, Microsoft Surfaces, and Lenovo. I’m particularly a fan of the Microsoft Surface so that certainly caught my attention. Scott is sure to mention that MobileDemand believes in empowering the worker where they are doing the work so they want to enable you to take your mobile device to exactly where you need it to complete your task. Not only do they have rugged cases but their cases are able to take different modules that expand the capability of your tablet. Their latest innovation is the xDim which takes measuring packages to a whole new level. I have worked with other measuring devices in the past but this one is the easiest to use and mobile that I have seen. xDim works off a 3D camera module that attaches to one of their cases and essentially to your tablet. Through the 3D camera, it is able to get the dimensions of the box that you are pointing out. This is a real game-changer as I have had to do the painstaking process of collecting items and taking them to a central location for measuring and then returning them to their original locations. Now, with xDim, you can scan and measure them right where they sit so there is no extra movement and you can get dimensions in a much more rapid way. Post MODEX I was also lucky enough to get a demonstration of the xDim and I will say it is very impressive. Not only is mobility a great factor but it is also very quick which allows you to keep moving and get your tasks done efficiently. While it is only available for up to certain sizes of boxes at this time, MobileDemand is working on scaling it up to handle bigger items and loads as well. Definitely looking forward to seeing how they expand on this range. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 277: MobileDemand at MODEX 2022
April 2022 Logistics Manager’s Index Report®
LMI® at 69.7 Growth is INCREASING AT AN INCREASING RATE for: Inventory Levels, Warehousing Utilization, Warehousing Prices, Transportation Utilization, and Transportation Prices. Growth is INCREASING AT A DECREASING RATE for Inventory Levels Warehousing Capacity and Transportation Capacity are CONTRACTING After reaching an all-time high of 76.2 in March, the overall LMI is down (-6.5) to 69.7 in April. This slowdown (which should be pointed out is still comfortably above the all-time average of 65.3) is largely driven by a shift in Transportation metrics. After 23 consecutive months of contraction Transportation Capacity has finally shifted back into expansion, bumping up 11.2 points to a reading of 56.9. There was an equivalent dip in Transportation Price expansion, down 15.8 points to 73.9. Despite the slowdown in transportation, respondents still indicate growth in the sector, just at a slower pace than what we’ve seen over the last 18 months. There is much less change in Inventory and Warehousing metrics as costs continue to grow and capacity remains tight Researchers at Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, and the University of Nevada, Reno, and in conjunction with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) issued this report today. Results Overview The LMI score is a combination of eight unique components that make up the logistics industry, including inventory levels and costs, warehousing capacity, utilization, and prices, and transportation capacity, utilization, and prices. The LMI is calculated using a diffusion index, in which any reading above 50 percent indicates that logistics is expanding; a reading below 50 percent is indicative of a shrinking logistics industry. The latest results of the LMI summarize the responses of supply chain professionals collected in April 2022. Overall, the LMI is down (-6.5) from March’s all-time high reading of 75.2. The dip is fueled by the first expansion of Transportation Capacity in nearly two years and a subsequent dip in the rate of growth for Transportation Prices. Inventory and Warehousing metrics remain are down slightly but still, show high rates of growth as supply chains continue struggling to find the capacity needed to deal with high levels of inventory. The economy is clearly in a complex place. GDP in the U.S. was down 1.4% year-over-year and 0.4% when adjusted for inflation. Interestingly, consumer spending grew through Q1, up 0.7%[1]. April was also tough on the market, the Nasdaq dipped 4.2% on the final Friday of April, capping off the worst month for the composite index since the recession of 2008. Since the start of 2022 the Nasdaq is down 21%, the S&P 500 is down 13%, and the Dow is off by 9%[2]. At the same time, wages continue to grow, up about 6% from a year ago, and unemployment remains low at 3.6%[3]. Goldman Sachs reports that the US. Currently has 5.3 million more available jobs than it does workers – the highest this gap has been since the end of World War 2[4] (Goldman Sachs, 2022). The large shifts in Transportation Prices (gold line) and Transportation Capacity (maroon line) over the six-year history of the LMI can be seen in the chart below. We have often stated that transportation metrics are the most dynamic piece of the LMI and the most reflective of the overall economy. Specifically, anytime there is an inversion between the lines representing Transportation Prices or Capacity, it usually means there has been some shift in the overall economy. For instance, after experiencing a 65-point spread in April of 2018 (coming on the heels of the Republican Tax Cut), there was an inversion in early 2019 as the freight market slowed dramatically – particularly upstream. This inversion, during which thousands of carriers went out of business, lasted until the outbreak of COVID-19 in America in early 2020. Transportation Price exceeded Capacity in March of 2020 as goods were pushed forward in anticipation of lockdown, and then dropped down again from April to May as much of the world fell into lockdown. The most recent inversion occurred in June 2020 as some restrictions lifted and supply chains shifted into high gear in an attempt to first make up the deficit built up during lockdowns, and then simply to keep up with burgeoning international demand. The deficit between Transportation Prices and Costs was near its peak a year ago with a 59.4-point spread. Today, that spread is only 17 points as the last two months have seen prices drop dramatically, and Capacity shift from contraction to expansion. It can be observed that the two curves have not yet inverted, suggesting that while the frantic pace in the transportation market has slowed down, we have not yet tilted into a full-on recession. The freight market has slowed, but it has not stopped. In late April, FreightWaves’ tender rejection index sat at 10.89%, a far cry from its reading of 25.45% at this time last year. This tells us that carriers had the capacity to take 3 out of every 4 loads available in April 2021 but can pick up roughly 9 out of 10 in April 2022. This is reflected in our Transportation Capacity metric, which as predicted in last month’s report moved from contraction up (+11.2) to expansion at a rate of 56.9. It should be noted that during April 2019 the tender rejection rate was just over 4%[5], so although a rate of 10-11% is down from the robust market carriers have been dealing with over the last 18 months, it is still double the rates observed during the freight recession of 2019. Interestingly, there are also reports that over 37,000 trailers were ordered in March – the highest figure since December 2020[6]. Demand for trailers has outstripped supply for the last 18 months, it will be interesting to observe whether this demand remains high, or if this was a temporary blip. Orders for new Class-8 trucks also remain fairly consistent, with very few order cancellations as firms as hesitant to “get out of line” when they’ve been waiting
Orbis® announces 2021 Plant of the Year recipient
ORBIS® Corporation — an international provider in reusable packaging — recently named its Silao, Mexico, facility its 2021 Plant of the Year. This annual ORBIS award honors one of its plants for its performance in safety, quality, service, innovation, and overall operational efficiency. This plant, located in the state of Guanajuato in Central Mexico, employs more than 350 associates and provides food, beverage, automotive, and consumer goods companies with reusable packaging totes, containers, custom dunnage, and pallets to move their products safely, efficiently, and more cost-effectively than single-use packaging. This plant is a two-time award recipient and was named the ORBIS Plant of the Year in 2019. “I am excited to share that the Silao plant has had zero recordable injuries for more than 1,000 days and achieved tremendous quality and workplace efficiency in 2021,” said Todd Mathes, executive VP of operations at ORBIS Corporation. “A top performer, this plant consistently exemplifies success through a deep dedication to safety, an engaged culture, and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction.” The Silao plant — one of 14 ORBIS North American manufacturing facilities considered for the award — won the 2021 Plant of the Year Award for its strong performance in workplace safety, customer service, and quality, as well as operational excellence. In 2021, Silao set new records in safety, revenue generation, and workplace efficiency. “A strong culture of teamwork, commitment, and innovation helped the Silao plant earn this recognition,” said Bill Ash, president of ORBIS. “We are very proud and appreciative of the plant’s accomplishments and are looking forward to continued success from Silao in the years to come.”
AGE Industries, Ltd excels at delivering custom-designed Corrugated Packaging Solutions
Innovative solutions that protect products, reduce inventory and shipping costs, and visual appeal to consumers AGE Industries, Ltd, a supplier of innovative and custom packaging and shipping solutions for industry and government agencies, offers custom-designed corrugated packaging for manufacturers across many different markets, with boxes that securely protect products, reduce shipping costs and inventory through custom design, and visual appeal to retail customers. Manufacturers rely on AGE Industries’ expertise and reputation for reliably delivering complete packaging solutions. Custom packaging solutions range from products as diverse as heavy, bulky automotive parts and major household appliances, to premium consumer electronics and fancy lingerie, to fresh and packaged foods. For each application, the package designers at AGE Industries select among many different box types and inserts, including Die Cut, Full Overlap Slotted Container (FOL), Full Telescopic Design Container (FTD), and Overlap Slotted Container (OSC). They utilize software to optimize the shape and size of the box to efficiently and safely package the product(s) contained within, and to ensure the boxes can be stacked securely on a pallet, without wasted space. AGE Industries excels at designing boxes that provide the optimal balance between the crush strength and weight/thickness to reduce the cost of materials and shipping. The use of recycled fibers also adds strength and reduces material costs. With a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, AGE Industries works with customers to ensure that packaging is curbside recyclable and is committed to ensuring that 100% of all waste and byproducts created in its manufacturing process will be recycled to make useful and safe products. AGE Industries offers custom printing, with exceptional color matching, that increases brand awareness and supports point-of-purchase marketing campaigns. A variety of wax and varnish coating options are available. Additional customizations include partitions, eyelets, transparent windows, and die-cut foam inserts.
Gorbel® CEO Brian Reh appointed Vice President of MHI
The leading association for handling, supply chain, and logistics appoints Gorbel® CEO to help shape its strategic vision Gorbel® Inc., a provider in overhead material handling, ergonomic lifting, and industrial fall protection, is excited to announce that Gorbel CEO Brian Reh has recently been elected to serve as Vice President of MHI, the nation’s largest material handling, supply chain, and logistics organization. In this role, Reh will be a vital part of solidifying the organization as the authoritative resource for material handling. Reh has been involved at MHI in various capacities for more than 15 years and has been a key participant in recent initiatives to set the direction for the organization. Reh and Gorbel® are key members of MHI industry groups that focus on overhead lifting and ergonomics. MHI members produce products and solutions ranging from mobile automation to storage equipment. MHI has a commitment to building supply chains that make the world work. To achieve this, the association delivers up-to-date knowledge, close professional connections, and top industry leadership, alongside the best market access for manufacturing and supply chain professionals. “MHI and Gorbel® share a commitment to sustaining the invisible force that connects everything, that is, supply chains,” affirms Reh. “Even in times of disruption,” he adds, “it is crucial that these supply chains run smoothly and successfully to keep critical goods flowing fast and freely. At MHI and Gorbel, we make sustaining supply chains our mission.”
KION North America announces the opening of its brand-new Aftermarket Distribution and Training Center
KION North America has opened its brand-new Aftermarket Distribution and Training Center in Summerville, South Carolina. This new location is just five miles from KION North America’s production facility, tripling the warehouse space for high-demand spare parts. The new location also offers a state-of-the-art Sales and Service Training Center for in-person and live events, which will support over 1,600 dealer technicians and sales representatives in 2022. The distribution warehouse increases floor space by 86%, vertical storage by 80%, high rack storage by 64%, and small parts storage by 30%. This allows KION North America to increase the total number of parts in stock to more than 30,000 SKUs to best serve its customers. The Aftermarket Distribution Center utilizes brand new Linde Material Handling warehouse equipment for a highly efficient storage and picking process. The opening of this new location has also provided additional jobs in the Summerville, South Carolina area. Daniel Schlegel, Vice President of Customer Service, says, ”the new Aftermarket Distribution Center and the new Sales & Service Training Facility are important milestones of our North American growth strategy. It puts the necessary foundation in place to provide state-of-the-art aftermarket support to our high-performing Sales & Service Dealer Network. The entire project execution took 11 months from planning to launch, and it also substantially improved the work environment for our Customer Service team.” The new training center will support roughly 400 dealer technicians and sales representatives in 2022. In addition to in-person training, the training center will produce up to 20 live webinars in the new virtual studio. KION North America will support an additional 1,200 service technicians and sales representatives throughout North America through live webinars in 2022. Bob Menges, Customer Service Technical Training Manager, says, “the new Training Center is specifically designed for service and sales/product training. It features a state-of-the-art classroom and a dedicated hands-on training lab where trainees, whether service technicians or sales representatives, can seamlessly move between classroom training and hands-on training to optimize the training environment and experience.” KION North America understands that immediate access to parts and experienced technicians to address customer issues quickly is essential to keep businesses running in these highly demanding times. With a continued focus on its customers, KION North America is proud to expand its offerings, including products, parts, training, and solutions to its dealer network.
UgoWork obtains $2 million in funding to accelerate the commercialization of its lithium-ion batteries for industrial vehicles
UgoWork™, a Canadian manufacturer of lithium-ion battery solutions for industrial vehicles, just announced that it has received $2 million in loan financing from Investissement Québec as part of the Compétivert initiative. This financing comes on the heels of several key commercial achievements and the adoption of its solution by major US clients. This support from Investissement Québec confirmed the tremendous potential of UgoWork’s solutions and its alignment with the Government of Québec’s battery strategy for commercial electric vehicles. The funds will be used for UgoWork’s market expansion across North America. In an unprecedented global context whereby the supply chains and energy efficiency are major challenges, UgoWork offers industrial fleet operators turnkey lithium-ion battery solutions that help optimize their resources, make data-driven decisions, and take a step towards a zero-carbon footprint. Its Energy as a Service (EaaS) subscription model reduces upfront costs for faster deployment and enables customers access to the latest UgoWork lithium technology, software suite, and best-in-class support with maintenance and technology updates. “With its lithium-ion battery for forklifts, UgoWork is helping to achieve one of our government’s objectives: to develop a comprehensive battery industry. The solutions offered by this manufacturer will contribute to the green transformation of our businesses while reinforcing Québec’s position as a leader in the electrification of transportation,” says Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of the Economy and Innovation and Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development. “We are proud to once again participate in UgoWork’s growth and transformation initiatives. Our financial support today demonstrates our commitment to shifting to a low-carbon economy, creating an end-to-end lithium value chain here at home — from ore extraction to battery recycling — and ensuring Québec becomes a top-notch North American hub in this sector. By supporting innovative solutions from companies such as UgoWork, we will be able to achieve our goals and secure a green and prosperous future”, mentioned Guy LeBlanc, President and CEO of Investissement Québec “The growing popularity of our solutions in North America is a clear indication of the quality and differentiation of our end-to-end offer,” explained Philippe Beauchamp, CEO at UgoWork. “We believe the market is ready to embark on a true transition to more viable energy solutions. There is tremendous momentum behind lithium-ion technology and we believe that UgoWork is strategically positioned to lead the wave. We are proud to count on the support of Investissement Québec so that we can continue fulfilling our vision of a more sustainable future in material handling.”
ALAN opens nominations For 2022 Humanitarian Logistics Awards
Annual awards honor extraordinary supply chain relief efforts The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has officially opened nominations for its sixth annual Humanitarian Logistics Awards, and it’s asking for your help in identifying some of this year’s most deserving honorees. “Many humanitarian efforts couldn’t happen or happen as well without the generosity of the commercial supply chain community,” said ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton. “These awards were created to shine a light on that generosity and to honor our industry’s most selfless companies and individuals. We clearly know who some of them are because we’ve worked hand-in-hand with them to help provide disaster relief. However there are many others that we won’t be aware of – and able to honor – unless someone takes the time to nominate them.” Nominations (including self-nominations) can be made via ALAN’s website (https://www.alanaid.org/humanitarian-awards-nomination/) between now and June 30th. Winners will be announced this fall. ALAN’s Humanitarian Logistics Awards are open to any logistics professional, academic, organization, or department. They are awarded in four key categories, each of which can have multiple honorees: Outstanding Contribution To Humanitarian Logistics Employee Engagement Research And Academic Contributions And Lifetime Achievement For a full list of rules and nomination criteria visit https://www.alanaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ALAN-Award-Nomination-Information-2022.pdf. Established in 2017, ALAN’s Humanitarian Logistics Awards recognize companies and individuals who exemplify the best that the supply chain profession has to offer by assuring that aid and comfort are rapidly delivered to communities in crisis. Previous winners have included CEVA Logistics, Palmer Logistics, Core-Mark International, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, American Trucking Associations, Tucker Company Worldwide, Truckstop.com, Dr. José Holguín-Veras, Dr. Hossein Zarei, and the students on ALAN’s intern teams from the W.P. Carrey School of Business at Arizona State University, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the University of Wisconsin Madison.
Industry veteran joins AutoScheduler as Chief Revenue Officer to accelerate growth
Co-Founder of LeanLogistics, Jeff Potts, brings 30 years of experience to empower the company for growth and greater profitability AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Management System (WMS) accelerator, adds Jeff Potts as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), empowering the company to accelerate growth and gain a more competitive edge. Jeff joins AutoScheduler with over thirty years of experience within the supply chain industry and proven success in business development and sales leadership. As CRO, Jeff will be responsible for developing new paths to revenue that drive predictable growth across sales and marketing. Jeff was one of the founders of LeanLogistics, the first transportation management system in the industry offered as a true Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. Jeff served as a corporate office and Board Member until LeanLogistics was sold to Brambles Limited in 2008 and later acquired by Kewill Systems in 2016. The company was rebranded as BluJay Solutions, where Jeff served as Vice-President of Client Services. “As one of five co-founders of LeanLogistics, I have a wealth of experience associated with starting a company, helping it grow, and creating value through strong relationships with customers and partners,” said Jeff Potts, CRO of AutoScheduler. “I bring my industry knowledge, business development acumen, visionary outlook, and team-building skills to drive growth for the company and execute go-to-market programs that capture market share.” “Jeff Potts is well-known in the industry and a proven leader, positioning him to greatly impact revenues and profitability for the company while driving value for our customers,” said Keith Moore, Chief Product Officer, AutoScheduler.AI. “Jeff will use strategy, analytics, and the best talent to target new customers and markets while deepening engagement with existing clients.” In 2021, BluJay was acquired by E2open, where Jeff served as the Vice President of Strategic Accounts. He currently is on the Supply Chain Management Advisory Board at Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago. Jeff graduated from Michigan State University with a BA Degree in Material & Logistics Management. He received Merchant Mariner Credentials for the U.S. Coast Guard and has Transportation Workers Identification Credentials with the Transportation Security Administration. Jeff received a patent in 2000 for Methods and apparatus for connecting shippers and carriers in the third-party logistics environment via the Internet. AutoScheduler is a WMS accelerator that maximizes the customer-facing output of the distribution center while understanding and respecting the different space, labor, and process constraints that exist within a warehouse. AutoScheduler reduces touches, cuts travel, and increases the capacity per labor unit to drive value. AutoScheduler more proactively identifies inventory and fulfillment bottlenecks to mitigate risk and improve outcomes.
Women In Trucking Association announces its May 2022 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Charlene Frelix Johnson as its May 2022 Member of the Month. Charlene is a professional driver for Republic Services and has been with the company for more than four years. Charlene is one of the few women in her division at Republic Services, the East Mesa yard. She hauls loads of trash and hazardous materials across her service area five days a week, provides exceptional service and stops at nothing to succeed within her role. She is a shining star on the team, highly respected, and serves as the go-to for many operational challenges within the field. Growing up in Mesa, Arizona, Charlene is a family-oriented woman and very grounded within her faith. She is the mother of two children and takes every opportunity to show them the value of hard work and dedication. She decided to enter a male-populated industry and take on all challenges that are associated with her role. Her wittiness, strategic mindset, and personable attitude bring her success within the workplace. Charlene is well known by the customers within her service areas and does an outstanding job of building positive rapport and relationships with the customers on the route. Her customers look forward to her service on a weekly basis. For example, one day a young child was admiring her truck as she drove down the street collecting the containers for service. After completing the street, Charlene circled back to the location of the child, stopped, and allowed him to look at the inside of the “big blue truck.” He was amazed and thoroughly enjoyed his time looking at all the controls and buttons in the truck. Within her leadership, Charlene is a great teacher. She jumps at the opportunity to lead and teach her fellow drivers. Her positive energy is contagious, and she has a soft touch in communicating with her colleagues. When she’s not at work, Charlene enjoys spending quality family time with her five beautiful grandchildren.
SupplyOne highlights managed services program
Services increase efficiency, cut costs and complexity, and amplify business performance SupplyOne, Inc., an independent supplier of custom corrugated and other value-added packaging products, equipment, and services in the U.S., highlights its Managed Services Program designed to help businesses enhance their competitiveness by taking cost of packaging ownership. SupplyOne’s Managed Services span every aspect of packaging ownership. They include specialty sourcing, back-office procurement-related activities, pre-shipping, packaging automation and service, inventory management, 3PL and logistics services, and more. “Companies want to partner with suppliers that are focused on continuous improvement. They want access to complementary or discounted services required to run their businesses even more effectively, “said David Whitney, SVP, Packaging at SupplyOne. “We’ve designed our services around the needs of our customers.” SupplyOne’s Managed Services reduce costs and complexity associated with packaging ownership giving manufacturers and food processors more control over their packaging-related expenses. There are 20 services available. Packaging Specialists work with customers to identify the custom suite of services to optimize their packaging and operations to yield new efficiencies and savings. Three such services are inventory management, just-in-time delivery, and price protection. ● The Inventory management service frees up space for growth while keeping inventory levels low and turning high. SupplyOne Packaging Specialists monitor inventory requirements and manage supplier quality and service to ensure customers have the right products for their applications when they need them. ● Just-in-time delivery liberates working capital that would otherwise be consumed handling and storing materials until they are needed for packaging and shipping. SupplyOne Packaging Specialists work with customers to ensure packaging materials are delivered on time and in sync with anticipated demand and production schedules. ● Price protection gives customers more predictability and control over their working capital through pre-determined price reviews, guaranteed minimum notification periods, and indexed pricing. Managed Services are ideal for companies seeking to mitigate labor challenges, increase speed to market, increase up-time and productivity and increase cash flow. The packaging supply chain is a complex system. SupplyOne Managed Services simplify it for businesses across industry verticals, including manufacturing food and beverage, medical & pharmaceutical CPG electronics, automotive industries. This program tailormade for those looking to form a partnership focused on enhancing value across their packaging supply chain.
Freight railroads remain committed to serving customers, broader economy
U.S. freight railroads made clear to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) and their customers that they are committed to delivering the safe and reliable service shippers deserve and expect. Participating in a two-day hearing last week at the STB, freight railroads acknowledged rail service challenges and emphasized actions they are taking to increase freight fluidity — including hiring new workers. Railroads are also deploying additional power where appropriate, increasing communication and transparency with customers, repositioning crews to high-density corridors, and leveraging technology as needed to reduce dwell times. “The rail industry understands its critical role in serving the U.S. economy and is confident in its abilities to work alongside customers to remedy service issues moving forward,” said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “Railroads valued the chance to communicate their plans to the STB, customers, and labor unions, and they will continue to update stakeholders on their progress.” Through written comments and Q&A sessions with STB members, railroads acknowledged their service challenges. At the same time, railroads explained they do not operate in a vacuum, but instead in a dynamic global economy that continues to be challenged by record inflation, supply and labor shortages, and now global conflict exerting new pressures on multiple industrial sectors. As rail labor leaders testified at the hearing, rail work is hard and demanding, and just as in other similar industries such as mining, drilling, trucking, aviation, and warehousing, finding qualified workers is more challenging than it has ever been. However, railroads explained that they are offering hiring bonuses, payments to refer-a-friend, financial incentives to temporarily or permanently relocate, and other incentives to entice more skilled labor to fill current vacancies. At the same time, issues persisting at ports and warehouses, as well as a lingering chassis shortage, create a ripple effect on parts of the rail business. Looking forward, railroads emphasized that improvements cannot happen overnight. They also noted that regulators must avoid exacerbating the situation by hastily intervening in rail operations with purported solutions not tailored to the issue. “While the AAR appreciates continued engagement with policymakers, the STB should proceed strategically and deliberately, particularly when considering structural policy shifts,” added Jefferies. “Disruptions in service should not be used to justify long-sought re-regulatory measures such as forced switching, as this type of market intervention would only complicate network operations further at a time when the focus needs to be on restoring freight fluidity.”
MHS Lift named Top Workplace by The Philadelphia Inquirer for third year in a row
MHS Lift, Inc., an award-winning, nationally recognized material handling equipment company, has been named one of the 2022 Top Workplaces in the greater Philadelphia area by The Philadelphia Inquirer. This is MHS Lift’s third Top Workplaces distinction in three years (2020, 2021, 2022). For the last 13 years, The Philadelphia Inquirer has partnered with Exton-based company Energage to rank the region’s Top Workplaces through a scientific survey of employees who rate their workplace culture. Any organization with at least 50 employees based in the Delaware Valley area is eligible to participate. “We are honored to be selected again as a Top Workplace by The Philadelphia Inquirer,” said Andy Levin, president, MHS Lift. “We know our success stems from our dedicated team, so it means so much knowing this distinction comes from the positive opinions and feedback from our valued employees.” “MHS Lift started as a small business selling forklifts in 1970,” added Brett Levin, Vice President, MHS Lift. “Today, we work with over 2,200 customers across the country. Without our hardworking team, this level of growth wouldn’t be possible. We’re proud to provide them with competitive benefits, a positive work environment, ongoing training and education, and opportunities to advance.”
EP 276: Supply Chain, A Family Affair at Open Sky Group
In this episode, I was joined by the father-daughter duo of Dave and Maddie Haley. They are both in the supply chain with Dave being from Open Sky Group on the solutions side and Maddie being from Genuine Parts on the continuous improvement side. We discuss their reactions to MODEX and the current warehousing environment. Key Takeaways When I featured Dave on the podcast at MODEX he mentioned that his daughter was also in attendance so I knew I had to get them together on the microphone. Dave provides supply chain solutions through Open Sky Group and his daughter has followed in his footsteps and is working for Genuine Parts helping to improve their distribution operations. Maddie was in attendance at MODEX as someone who is shopping for solutions so I thought it would be interesting to get her perspective. Overall, both Dave and Maddie had the same thoughts on their reaction to MODEX. While it is great to see all of the technology advancements and automation, they are concerned that companies will not fully optimize before they get to the point where they really should be utilizing automation or robotics. As we discuss, you don’t want to be stuck with robots sitting in the corner of your warehouse collecting dust. If you are going to move to automation you have to ensure that your processes are as optimized as possible first. Another great highlight is the growth that Maddie has experienced in the supply chain. She was able to get into a rotational program through Genuine Parts and has been able to experience multiple different aspects of the supply chain. She gives some great advice for students who are undecided on whether the supply chain is for them or are going to be graduating in the near future. Listen to the episode below and leave your thoughts in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 276: Supply Chain, A Family Affair
BionicHIVE announces new investment to help advance emerging Robotics Technologies in supply chain
The Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund invests in BionicHIVE to address a key challenge in the fast-growing supply chain emerging technology industries. BionicHIVE will use the investment to grow its team, increase the footprint of its U.S. operations, and expand its customer base BionicHIVE, which enables a new age of robotics innovation, has announced that it received funding from the newly announced Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund aimed at investing in emerging technologies. BionicHIVE has developed the SqUID robotics solution, which combines flexibility with safety and efficiency to solve customer operation challenges within a warehouse environment. Warehouses are rarely static environments with the uniformity and predictability necessary for traditional solutions. SqUID is deployed in a wide range of supply chain facilities utilizing existing shelving racks and boxes and is capable of picking and putting away from the floor to ceiling. “The purpose of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund is to support emerging technologies through direct investments, designed to spur invention and solve the world’s toughest challenges across customer fulfillment operations, logistics, and supply chain solutions,” said Katherine Chen, Head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. “Amazon has recognized BionicHIVE for its differentiated solution capable of optimizing safety around repeated tasks, at any height, in the supply chain workplace, and this is the kind of technology that’s pulling innovation forward.” SqUID’s fleet of autonomous robots provides a one-stop solution that works alongside the warehouse workforce. The ability to string together and streamline multiple operations across the warehouse with robotics, orchestrated and controlled by a smart algorithmic engine, is a key differentiator. SqUID eliminates the rigid operational and financial requirements of traditional automation and requires no start-up costs. “With Amazon’s funding and support, BionicHIVE is growing its team and operations, establishing US footprint to expand its customer base and scale go-to-market, as well as increasing R&D,” said Ilan Reingold, CEO at BionicHIVE. “We couldn’t have asked for a better company whose investment is a validation of the unique approach and capabilities of our platform and whose guidance is invaluable,” Reingold added.
Sharp rise in procurement costs and disruptions in supply chains hit Q1 2022 results of KION Group
Order intake increases by 10.4 percent to €2.900 billion Order book rises by 2.9 percent to €6.855 billion compared with the end of 2021 Revenue up 15.1 percent to €2.734 billion thanks to strong order book in the previous year Adjusted EBIT at €170.3 million compared with €215.0 million in the same period last year Adjusted EBIT margin falls to 6.2 percent (previous year: 9.1 percent) Net income at €80.2 million, down from the previous year (€137.0 million) Free cash flow of €-432.6 million significantly below the previous year’s level (€262.1 million) The outlook for the financial year 2022 remains suspended due to economic and political uncertainties KION GROUP AG has started the 2022 financial year with good results for order intake and revenue. However, the substantial increase in procurement costs and the global supply chain disruptions continued to impact the Group’s profitability. In addition, the already troubled situation has intensified further due to the war in Ukraine. There have also been new coronavirus lockdowns, which affected the Asian region in particular. KION Group’s order intake rose by 10.4 percent to €2.900 billion (the previous year: €2.626 billion) in the reporting period. KION Group started the new financial year with a well-filled order book from 2021. Thanks to the ongoing positive order situation, and also due to long delivery times continuing, the Group’s order book rose by €196.1 million to €6.855 billion compared with the end of 2021 (€6.658 billion). Group revenue increased by 15.1 percent to €2.734 billion (previous year: €2.375 billion). The year-on-year revenue growth was due to the order book being well filled by the end of 2021. Consistently strong revenue growth in the service business was also achieved in the first quarter of the new financial year. Services accounted for 40.2 percent (previous year: 40.8 percent) of Group revenue. Adjusted EBIT fell to €170.3 million (previous year: €215.0 million). The adjusted EBIT margin dropped to 6.2 percent (previous year: 9.1 percent) as a result. At €80.2 million, the Group’s net income was down from the previous year (€137.0 million). This included non-recurring items from Russian business (after tax) of €-29.2 million in total. At €-432.6 million, free cash flow was significantly lower than in the previous year (€262.1 million) due to the increase in unfinished products and higher stocks of raw materials and supplies to safeguard the Group’s ability to fulfill orders. “The ongoing escalation of material and logistics costs and the continuing bottlenecks in procurement markets impacted our business, as was already the case in Q4 2021,” said Rob Smith, CEO of KION GROUP AG. “Despite these circumstances, we were able to significantly increase order intake and revenue compared to the previous year thanks to ongoing demand.” He believes the Group is still in a strong position going forward: “We are represented on all key global markets as a leading full-service provider in intralogistics. The fundamental drivers of our industry are still intact, as demonstrated by the full order books. We will continue to focus on profitable growth and the implementation of our strategy, ‘KION 2027’.” Economic and Political Uncertainties Slowing Down Global Economy The war in Ukraine will severely set back the global economy, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It stated the existing disruptions to supply chains and rising raw material and energy prices will result in a much higher inflation rate. Based on its current estimates, the IMF predicts global growth of just 3.6 percent and an inflation rate of 5.7 percent for advanced economies and 8.7 percent for emerging and developing economies. This marks another downward revision of the IMF’s global growth target for 2022, which stood at 4.4 percent in January 2022. The international sanctions against Russia and Belarus caused further price increases in the raw materials markets. Not only have prices for fossil fuels such as gas, oil, and coal risen sharply, but the price of metals such as palladium and nickel has also gone up dramatically at times. Russia is one of the biggest exporters of nickel, which is mainly used in steel production and battery manufacturing. According to the IMF, there are still ongoing risks to the global economy from restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly if lockdown measures continue to hit production in China. In the view of KION Group, the material handling market was initially only moderately affected by the effects of the war in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2022. Demand for industrial trucks in KION Group’s sales markets was still above the previous year’s level. In the view of KION Group, the market in the EMEA and Americas regions grew strongly in the reporting period. Order intake in the APAC region was slightly higher than the previous year’s level in the view of KION Group, driven by the continuing positive trend in China. At the same time, significant supply limitations are continuing as a knock-on effect of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the industry is being adversely affected by the lack of preliminary products for production and the loss of key transport routes due to the war in Ukraine. Across the sector, supply chain delays hampered the delivery of urgently needed upstream products to production sites. This led to significantly and persistently longer delivery times, including for KION Group brands. Due to industry association amendments to rules for the publication dates of market data for new orders of industrial trucks, there is no reportable data available for order figures on the overall market in the reporting period. Project business for supply chain solutions was also hit due to delays on the supply side. In the view of KION Group, the global market for supply chain solutions has continued to grow strongly in the reporting period. The EMEA and Americas regions contributed to the high level of market activity once again. It is too early to fully appraise the impact of the war in Ukraine and the international sanctions against Russia and Belarus on economic development in the KION Group’s
New standard helps organizations prevent workplace injuries
Organizations typically measure safety and health performance by tracking incidents after the fact with lagging metrics. To improve that method, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) has published a voluntary national consensus standard that outlines a balanced measurement approach, using leading, lagging, and impact metrics. The new standard can help organizations prevent injuries, illnesses, and many other incidents from occurring in the first place. ANSI/ASSP Z16.1-2022, Safety and Health Metrics and Performance Measures, incorporates a balanced evaluation of risk management factors and safety management systems that empowers a business to take a more comprehensive and effective approach to safety and health. “Relying solely on lagging metrics does not improve workplace safety,” said Alexi Carli, M.S., CSP, chair of the Z16 committee. “We need a complete, systematic method to influence what happens while understanding how and why it happens. This standard’s balanced approach measures actions that drive improvement. It’s a major development that can help businesses thrive, especially in today’s challenging environment.” Find more information on ANSI/ASSP Z16.1-2022 on the ASSP website. “Occupational safety and health professionals are strategic business partners,” Carli added, “and the new standard enables them to help corporate leaders achieve greater organizational efficiencies and improve resilience.” In addition to introducing a new standard, ASSP revised two standards that will also help advance workplace safety and health. Z117.1-2022, Safety Requirements for Entering Confined Spaces, provides minimum safety requirements to be followed while entering, exiting, and working in confined spaces. Confined space safety standards are critical across all industries because first responders may not have the capability to perform a rescue in all circumstances. Proactively implementing a standard such as Z117.1-2022 reduces risks such as oxygen deficiency, which is a leading atmospheric hazard in confined space incidents. ANSI/ASSP A1264.2-2022, Reducing Slip Missteps on Walking-Working Surfaces, provides guidance for adequate slip resistance. Falls are the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States. While these hazards exist in many work environments, organizations can take simple steps to mitigate or eliminate them. Voluntary national consensus standards provide the latest expert guidance and fill gaps where federal regulations don’t exist. Companies rely on them to drive improvement and injury prevention. With regulatory requirements being slow to change and often out of date, compliance is not sufficient to protect workers. ASSP is a global provider in the development of workplace safety and health standards, helping employers minimize on-the-job risks. The organization’s broad collection of new and revised standards focuses on psychological safety and health, fall protection, construction and demolition operations, and prevention through design. In addition to implementing safety and health standards, all employers are encouraged to regularly conduct workplace risk assessments, which are effective in combatting many safety and health issues across all industries.
San Pedro Bay ports container dwell fee on hold through May 6
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 May 6. Since the program was announced on Oct. 25, the two ports have seen a combined decline of 50% 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. 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. The Long Beach and Los Angeles Boards of Harbor Commissioners have extended the fee program through July 28. It had been due to expire today, April 29.
Port of Long Beach boosts rail capacity with new project
Train access, cargo movement improves with completed double track The Port of Long Beach has completed the construction of a new rail project that will increase the efficiency of goods movement and reduce congestion on local roadways by shifting more cargo to trains. The Double Track Access from Pier G to Pier J Project adds a second rail line running approximately 8,000 feet long that enables four terminals in the Port’s south basin area to simultaneously handle arriving and departing trains. The project is a vital piece of the Port’s ongoing rail infrastructure capital improvement program aimed at shifting more cargo to rail, one of the goals of the 2017 Update of the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan. “This project is an important piece of the rail improvement program that will increase efficiency and lower emissions at our Port,” said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. “We’re continuing to invest in strengthening our supply chain, prioritizing environmental sustainability, and reducing impacts on the communities surrounding the Port.” “This project will streamline operations and reduce truck trips at a time we are experiencing an unprecedented growth in cargo,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Our investments in on-dock rail will help the Port remain globally competitive and environmentally sustainable well into the future.” “Alleviating truck traffic will enhance air quality and decrease the impact of Port operations on the surrounding community,” said Sharon L. Weissman, Vice President of the Long Beach Harbor Commission. “Moving goods more efficiently and sustainably remains one of our top priorities.” Construction started in February 2020 on the project, which increases rail efficiency at Piers G and J up to 25 percent. It will also minimize conflict with neighboring terminals’ on-dock rail operations and improve overall safety in the vicinity. The $34.7 million project was partially funded with a $14 million grant from the state’s Trade Corridor Enhancement Program, which was established by Senate Bill 1 to pay for infrastructure improvements on federally designated freight networks across California using money from the state and the National Highway Freight Program. The Port contributed the remaining funds for the project, which was completed early and under budget.