IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions
Clustag’s MOT Station can drive inventory accuracy up to 99.92% and scan 400 tags per case at speeds of up to 1,000 cases per hour. The RFID-based solution for distribution centers and warehouses aggregates three pieces of data—RFID identification, case volume, and case weight—to improve the inventory management process.
Technology
• Identiv’s ID-Pixels tags will now be powered wirelessly by Energous’ PowerBridge technology, enabling accurate sensor measurements throughout the supply chain, including in cold chain logistics. The joint solution aims to deliver more reliable power than disposable batteries and charging cables to Internet of Things sensors deployed across the logistics industry.
• HERE Technologies launched HERE Advanced Traffic Patterns to help improve the planning, routing, and delivery of goods and packages. The solution leverages trillions of data points from onboard sensors, telematics systems, and mobile devices to calculate traffic speed information for commercial vehicles, incorporating variables such as time, day, and vehicle type to help companies improve planning capabilities with predictive ETA windows.
↑ RightHand Robotics introduced the RightPick 4 System, an autonomous robotic piece-picking solution for warehouse order fulfillment, which offers improved picking and grasping techniques. The solution has enhanced AI-based software algorithms, upgraded sensors, and hardware that enables a larger picking range of item SKUs, item handling capacity, and increased system autonomy.
Products
← Smart Vision Lights’ new RHI200-DO Lightgistics light with hidden strobe technology features 64 LEDs in a ring light for uniform lighting at long working distances. The technology helps maximize the abilities of machine vision systems. The light addresses the challenges of high-speed barcode reading and optical character recognition on highly reflective plastic wraps and shipping bags.
• ORBIS, in collaboration with partner Seedbox Solution, unveiled the GEN250 seed box, a container for storing, transporting, and discharging bulk seed. The reusable containers are collapsible and stackable, minimizing storage needs and increasing transportation efficiency.
• The new nestable picking pallet, Retail US5, from Cabka is 100% recyclable and is constructed from recycled plastic. Designed for U.S. plastic pallet solutions, the Retail US5 features a lightweight construction and a low nesting height to maximize space utilization.
Services
• cargo-partner is constructing its third warehouse at its iLogistics Center in Dunajská Streda, Slovakia. The expansion will nearly double storage capacity from the current 27,600 to 50,000 pallet spaces. The new Class A building was designed to optimize energy efficiency and includes 22 loading ramps and two drive-in gates for loading and unloading.
• Delta Cargo launched an ecommerce solution called DeliverDirect in collaboration with SmartKargo. DeliverDirect is a door-to-door delivery service for the U.S. market, offering ecommerce retailers a customizable, direct-to-consumer shipping solution that provides alert management, tracking and reporting, and access to Delta’s domestic network.
↑ Southeastern Freight Lines opened an expanded service center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The new facility consists of 230 dock doors and houses its pickup and delivery operation as well as its breakbulk operation on an interim basis while Southeastern works to redevelop its second facility in Charlotte.
• CJ Logistics America is opening a cold storage warehouse in Gainesville, Georgia, later this year, located adjacent to the future Northeast Georgia Inland Port, providing a direct link to the Port of Savannah. The 270,000-square-foot building, developed by RL Cold, offers a blast freezing system that brings products to desired temperatures in 24 hours or less.
• AIT Worldwide Logistics opened a LEED-certified warehouse in Palatine, Illinois, near Chicago. Designed to handle a variety of shipping needs, the newly constructed, 370,000-square-foot building is equipped with 58 dock doors and provides full-service warehousing, including pick and pack services, short- and long-term storage, and multiple temperature-controlled areas for food logistics and life sciences commodities.
Transportation
↑ China Cargo Airlines launched three Boeing 777 freighter flights a week to Miami from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The airlines awarded Worldwide Flight Services a three-year contract to handle its cargo, including ecommerce traffic, perishables, seafood, and general cargo.
• Ocean Network Express (ONE) is set to launch a container ship service between Savannah, Georgia, and West India in May 2024. The new offering gives the Georgia Ports Authority 10 services via the Suez Canal, with nine calling on the Indian subcontinent. ONE’s new West India North America service offers a weekly route linking Hazira, Nhava Sheva, and Mundra to Savannah.
• CMA CGM’s first liquefied natural gas-powered container ship now serves West African ports. The 15,000-TEU CMA CGM SCANDOLA sails on CMA CGM’s West Africa Express service connecting West Africa (Tema, Lekki, Abidjan, and Pointe-Noire) directly to China, Southeast Asia, and India.
• ZIM introduced ZIM Pacific Northwest Xpress (ZPX), an independent service that connects Asia, Canada, and the United States via Vancouver Gateway. ZPX commenced operations on January 21 from Cai Mep, Vietnam, with the following rotation: Yantian, Kaohsiung, Xiamen, Ningbo, Shanghai, Vancouver (Deltaport), Pusan, and back to Cai Mep. Service features include rail connectivity covering major Canada and U.S. inland IPI destinations, including East and Central Canada, U.S. Midwest, and Ohio Valley.
• Roadrunner expanded its less-than-truckload services, launching offerings to Canada and Portland as well as adding 135 lanes to its network. Roadrunner’s new lanes include: Dallas and Houston, Texas, to Denver; Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee, to Denver; the Northeastern United States to and from Nashville, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Cincinnati; cities in Florida to Nashville and Memphis; and service to Alaska and Hawaii.
↑ Maersk A/S, an entity under A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk), and Hapag-Lloyd signed an agreement for a long-term operational collaboration called Gemini Cooperation, which will start in February 2025, to provide shippers with ocean network reliability and accelerate decarbonization initiatives. The new cooperation includes a fleet pool of around 290 vessels with a combined capacity of 3.4 million TEUs; Maersk will deploy 60% and Hapag-Lloyd 40%.