RCS Logistics obtains dry bonded warehouse status

RCS Logistics, a third party logistics (3PL) provider based in Corby, Northamptonshire, is pleased to announce that the company has obtained dry bonded status for its warehouse facility in Corby.

Fully approved and subject to regular audits by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), RCS’ bonded warehouse took 14 months to gain dry bonded status. The site is secure with 24/7 security, computerised stock systems and web-based access to stock records, which enables customers to view stock levels in real time.

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Rail link boost for East Anglian freight

Network Rail today (Friday) confirmed that an upgrade of the cross-country line from Felixstowe on the Suffolk coast to Nuneaton will go ahead after the appointment of an engineering team - Jacobs Engineering - to carry out the work.

The company will spend £35 million on building a new one-kilometre section of track in Ipswich linking the East Suffolk Line to the main line, allowing freight trains to go from Felixstowe to the midlands without having to reverse at Ipswich.

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Big opportunities for logistics apprenticeships in Scotland

Modern Apprenticeships in the freight logistics industry in Scotland have received a massive boost. Skills for Logistics, the Sector Skills Council for the industry, has welcomed the news that Skills Development Scotland, (the agency charged by the Scottish Government with the task of promoting training and skills development)  has made funding available for the establishment of some 1700 ‘all age group’ Modern Apprenticeships during 2010.  This is in on top of the 500 places already allocated in Scotland to the logistics sector in 2009.

In addition grants of £1,000 may be available for employers who take on Modern Apprentices as new employees or up skill their existing staff.

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Marks & Spencer awards drinks contract to DSV Road

DSV Road has won a two year contract to transport all Marks & Spencers beer, wine and spirits from its UK suppliers to the M&S Distribution Centre in Daventry.

Using a combination of dedicated and network vehicles, DSV Road will collect the beer, wine and spirits from suppliers throughout the UK and deliver into the Daventry DC in one-hour time slots.

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Government acts to protect supermarket suppliers

A new code of practice has come into force in the UK which is intended to help farmers and food companies when they do business with the main supermarkets.

Practices such as big chains altering supply terms retrospectively or asking suppliers to fund promotions such as two-for-one deals will be outlawed. Supermarkets will be required to keep written records of negotiations with suppliers.

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Innovative ideas for the food & drink sector at IMHX 2010

The International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX), which takes place at the NEC from 16-19 November, is a must-see event for everyone with logistics responsibility.

Held only once every three years, IMHX is the undisputed leader in UK logistics events, giving visitors from diverse industries the opportunity to see thousands of handling and storage solutions from over 300 exhibitors, all under one roof. One of the key sectors whose executives can benefit from a visit to IMHX 2010 is the food & drink industry.

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Doubling up on advantages at Walkers operation

A combination of two AC electric powered Aisle-Masters fitted with telescopic forks and double-deep storage is enabling Walkers Transport to make maximum use of its warehousing facilities in Leeds.

Walkers specialises in the express distribution of palletised goods, stocking “everything from motorbikes to mineral water,” according to warehouse manager Chris Burley. The company has been operating a VNA system since it moved to its present site five years ago, and recently replaced its old fleet. “We tested all the articulated brands on the market,” says Chris, ”and the Aisle-Master won hands down in terms of quality, robust build and operator comfort.” 4,000 pallets are accommodated in the racking, and double deep storage is central to achieving this density – Chris estimates that at least a third of the overall pallet capacity would be lost without it.

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One truck solution from Aisle-Master

A build quality second to none, superb reliability and customised build options are hallmarks of the Aisle-Master range of articulated forklifts.

The wide range of Aisle-Master models enables you to increase storage whilst at the same time cutting costs and speeding up the handling process – and this is all down to the ingenious articulated design of the Aisle-Master, its manoeuvrability, ability to work in very narrow aisles and versatile indoor and outdoor capabilities.

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The future’s bright for Knapp

In a move designed to ensure continued promotion of its high profile, logistics solutions supplier Knapp recently opened its doors to customers for the Month of Visitors Event (MOVE 09) to showcase latest technologies and future innovations in the pipeline. Nikki Catchpole attended the event last month to find out more.

Given the current difficult and uncertain economic conditions, many companies have been reluctant to develop new or innovative equipment, and showcasing these may not be high on their list of priorities. Logistics solutions provider Knapp does not, however, fall into this category, instead choosing to promote a selection of new innovations at its recent Month of Visitors Event (MOVE 09) at the Group’s headquarters near Graz, Austria.

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Plan ahead during tough times says Jungheinrich

In the next in our series of articles by members of the Automated Material Handling Systems Association (AMHSA), Steve Richmond, general manager of Jungheinrich’s Systems & Projects Division, debates the use of recessionary times for planning the future.

With the economy shrinking quarter on quarter, this is a recession the like of which the majority of us have not seen before. The far reaching impact is something that most of us feared since the first of the British banks went to the wall but, strangely, we seem to have all become acclimatised to the economic situation and we are now almost marking time, waiting for the recession to end. Perhaps it is time to take a more proactive approach.

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Rich pickings at SSI Schaefer

Despite the world economic crisis, launches of new high-speed picking systems are in abundance, as recent innovations from SSI Schaefer prove. Nikki Catchpole attended the symposium Logistica 09 at SSI Schafer Peem GmbH in Graz, Austria to discover what the latest offerings can bring to businesses.

Businesses and retailers of every size will consider automation as part of their warehouse strategy, and while picking and sorting technology can bring significant benefits to the warehousing function, care needs to be taken when sourcing appropriate systems that will deliver actual benefits. In such uncertain economic times, using an equipment supplier that can offer innovation combined with value for money should be at the top of the list of requirements when selecting which manufacturer to work with.

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Where does your food come from? (Don’t say ‘the supermarket’!)

Sitting down last night after a hard day’s work, I started to gaze vacantly at the television in my usual way (when I know that there will be nothing half-decent to watch on during the evening) when an extremely interesting programme on BBC One suddenly awakened my attention. Entitled ‘Crop to Shop’, the programme was presented by Suffolk-based pig farmer Jimmy Doherty, and explored the global...