When global third-party logistics company (3PL) syncreon went to upgrade the lighting at its DC in Niederaula Rather than going out and buying all new fixtures the company decided to take lighting off the balance sheet altogether and go with an outsourcing model which provides supply chain solutions for automotive and technology customers would “rent” high-efficiency LED lighting from an outside partner on a “light as a service” basis What set the whole thing in motion was syncreon’s quest to trim both its energy costs and its carbon footprint at its 180,000-square-foot facility in Niederaula Germany has the second-highest electricity costs per kilowatt hour (kWh) in Europe resulting in signiﬁcant energy spend with the older lighting system which prides itself on sustainable operations was looking to reduce the CO2 emissions generated by the electricity it consumed As eager as the 3PL was to upgrade to LED lighting there was a hitch: Retrofitting a warehouse of such scale would involve signiﬁcant capital expense That’s where outsourcing came into the picture By partnering with an outside party—in this case an Irish startup called UrbanVolt—syncreon could avoid the upfront costs of buying and installing new high-efficiency fixtures and instead contract for lighting service on a pay-as-you-go basis Founded in 2015, Dublin-based UrbanVolt is a B corp—meaning a for-profit company whose work benefits society at large—that helps the world’s largest energy users such as warehouses and other large industrial facilities Its programs include the “Light as a Service” offering in which UrbanVolt outfits its customers’ facilities with LED lights at no charge to the user and then operates and maintains the systems for a specified term gets paid by sharing the savings on the customer’s energy bills But its value proposition doesn’t end there To make the process as frictionless for clients as possible UrbanVolt takes care of every aspect of the retrofit project from start to finish That includes gathering site data and putting together a business case that includes the lighting design and a forecast of the cost and environmental impact there was one other requirement as well: The 3PL stipulated that the retrofit work had to be done without disrupting site operations UrbanVolt visited the site prior to the installation and created a 3D print of the light bracket so that it could manufacture custom ﬁttings for the warehouse in advance—a step that resulted in a quicker Once the installation got under way in July 2019 UrbanVolt project-managed the retroﬁt of the entire premises replacing a total of 1,181 ﬁttings with 797 custom-made LED light ﬁttings in just two weeks’ time the installation team scheduled the work for nights and weekends By upgrading its warehouse to LED lighting syncreon Niederaula is now seeing signiﬁcantly improved light levels with staff enjoying brighter and safer workspaces syncreon Niederaula has cut its energy consumption by 442,851 kWh annually which amounts to an almost 70% reduction in the facility’s lighting energy spend “this … reduction is great news for syncreon’s bottom line future-prooﬁng its business against Germany’s high electricity rates” as well as freeing up cash for other investments It’s also a big win from an environment standpoint the annual CO2 reduction achieved by upgrading the facility to LED lighting is equivalent to the carbon sequestered—or absorbed—by 370 acres of mature forest in one year Orders for new trucks fell sharply in April plunging 54% both month-over-month (m/m) and year-over-year (y/y) to reach the lowest order total since May 2020 when order activity cratered due to Covid shutdowns By the numbers, North American Class 8 net orders in April dropped to just 7,400 units, far below the seven-year April average of 18,963 units, according to the Bloomington, Indiana-based transportation analysis firm. FTR said the result came as tariffs and related concerns over the economy and the freight market have significantly dampened fleet investments in Class 8 trucks and tractors this year Some fleets apparently are holding off on truck and tractor purchases until market conditions improve or at least stabilize And others are increasingly canceling their existing orders in response to that growing uncertainty net orders for 2025 through April are down 30% y/y while Class 8 retail sales are down 10% y/y through March Cumulative net orders for the 2025 order season (September 2024 through April 2025) are down 11% y/y tariffs and retaliatory tariffs will significantly increase costs for Class 8 trucks “In addition to slowing economic and truck freight market growth prolonged tariff-driven cost increases and regulatory changes could further suppress near-term demand within the Class 8 segment This will very likely reduce industry volumes and negatively affect profitability and stability for OEMs and suppliers in the North American Class 8 truck market.” The automated material handling solutions provider Trew today said it has completed its fourth “major expansion” in six years entering a lease for 330,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space and bringing its total footprint in the Southwest Ohio region to nearly 595,000 square feet Trew’s existing “Innovation and Support Center” will be relocated to this new larger facility located less than one mile from its existing headquarters That expanded department will now house the Technology and Education (demonstration) Center and key functions including research and development The move increases the size of the Innovation and Support Center by 30% tripling the size of the Technology and Education Center and research and development footprint Trew’s Milwaukee-based engineering and professional services will continue to operate in that facility with warehouse and manufacturing operations moving to the expanded West Chester Each year, on the second Tuesday in June, the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) hosts National Forklift Safety Day (NFSD) Our aim is twofold: to highlight the industrial truck industry’s commitment to safe practices and to educate customers and policymakers about the safe use of forklifts and the importance of operator training If you are a regular reader of this magazine and its website then you likely will be familiar with this important annual safety program I’d like to introduce you to our organization and its members ITA is the not-for-profit trade association representing manufacturers of powered industrial trucks (PITs) and their suppliers operating in the United States With roots dating back to 1917 and its current structure established in 1951 ITA has a long history of advocating for the interests of the powered industrial truck industry Member companies manufacture and distribute a wide range of equipment including sit-down counterbalanced forklifts (electric and engine-powered) Our industry has an incredible story to tell about its contributions to the overall U.S. economy. The report **ital{Lifting America: The Economic Impact of Industrial Truck Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers} (available at www.indtrk.org/newsroom) developed by ITA with Oxford Economics and updated in 2025 with new data ensures that we can continue to tell our story effectively and attract more bright Let me share some statistics from “Lifting America” that might surprise you I can also report that the North American market is gradually returning to normal following several years of historically high retail orders the forklift market recorded over 195,000 retail orders in the United States with electric-powered models accounting for 71% and internal combustion-engine models representing 29% of the total While we are proud of our industry’s economic achievements and the broader material handling community With many businesses operating in a tight labor market that may bring an influx of new employees—some of whom will operate forklifts—it is more important than ever to prioritize safety and ensure that all operators receive adequate training We’re also proud that what began more than a decade ago as a U.S.-based initiative has grown into a global movement: National Forklift Safety Day is now recognized with events in Japan the industry supports NFSD through facility open houses outreach efforts have reached millions of professionals Beyond organizing National Forklift Safety Day ITA plays a vital role in supporting the industry by: If you are a manufacturer of powered industrial trucks or a supplier to the industry, we encourage you to learn more about ITA and explore the benefits of membership. Visit us at www.indtrk.org for more information Forklift maker Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas has completed an expansion at its Houston manufacturing campus that will help the company grow its footprint in the expanding market for electric lift trucks and other material handling equipment With electric-powered solutions continuing to outpace internal combustion (IC) vehicles in the warehouse product market this facility strengthens the company’s position for sustained momentum The company began construction on the $20 million 73,500-square-foot electrification fabrication facility in 2023 and finished installing technologies such as powder painting and robotic welding equipment in 2025 the new facility is designed to meet the rising demand for Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas’ Electric Class I and Class II products It is also designed to significantly enhance production capacity and lower manufacturing costs to better serve evolving customer needs “This expansion is a reflection of our continued commitment to innovation and growth,” Berry Mansfield President of Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas “It took a shared vision to bring this expansion to life This facility not only supports our growth in electrification but also creates a more engaging environment for our employees We’re excited to start production this year.” Supply chain software vendor Blue Yonder today said it had acquired Pledge Earth Technologies Inc. a British firm that provides accredited carbon emissions reporting The deal includes London-based Pledge’s global supply chain sustainability solution for beneficial cargo owners (BCOs) Blue Yonder said those capabilities will enhance its exiting offering to include globally accredited logistics CO2e emissions reporting that allows customers to monitor their own emissions and those of their trading partners and suppliers Many carbon tracking tools are built to track single-party data and don’t integrate into the carrier network hence lacking the network effect and limiting the scope and accuracy of data But Pledge’s capabilities automate the collection and exchange of shipment data from logistics suppliers to facilitate accredited and traceable emissions calculations across all transport modes Blue Yonder customers can extend their applicable Blue Yonder solutions to include this new capability allowing them to receive emissions reporting that is in conformance with the Global Logistics Emission Council (GLEC) framework developed by the Smart Freight Center (SFC) and aligned with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14083: Greenhouse gases “The ability to easily and accurately quantify precise emissions is a huge win for our customers’ sustainability initiatives but it’s also more than that – it’s about what you can do with that information,” Saskia van Gendt “By gaining more insight on the environmental impact of their logistics operations improve accountability for logistics service providers’ transportation emissions and target specific inefficiencies for improvement Blue Yonder’s aim has always been to give customers much-needed visibility into their end-to-end supply chain; this new capability will pave the way for smarter more efficient and greener supply chains.” You can read this article in 2 minutesGregor Gowans CargoLine has announced it is building its own hub in Niederaula in East Hesse The 10,800 square-metre facility with 126 gates will replace its existing hub in Fulda also used by CargoLine shareholder John Spedition Cargoline said its new facility has a convenient location between the A4 It is hoped the hub could even be operational by the end of Q1 2023 “We have seen continuous shipment growth for years and the positive development of our digital freight forwarder Cargoboard the spatial capacities of our shareholder and lifting service provider John Spedition are finite and there was no opportunity to acquire a suitable plot of land for a new facility in the same area That’s why we decided to build a new hub that can grow with us due to the space available and that we operate ourselves.” “This strategically forward-looking decision is worth a double-digit million sum for us in value It goes hand-in-hand with our goal to round off the network by adding further partners and to develop new digital business models in the form of start-ups via our subsidiary Cargo Digital World (CDW) The latter should enrich the logistics market from LTL and FTL to sea freight and contract logistics and ensure additional growth in shipments.” The new facility will combine the company’s two existing hubs in one building the construction of the hub will mean shorter arrival times and other efficiency gains It is also said that John Spedition shall benefit from the move as it will gain space at its Eichenzell site for its own growth given that the two buildings are not that far apart many employees will be able to pick up where they left off at the new hub location Photo: JohnSped, CC BY-SA 4.0 Pölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 6.05.2025 Fragrance on the Fly: Why Pocket Perfumes Are Perfect for Airplane TravelSponsored Article 6.05.2025 Deutsche Post says it has contracted Siemens Logistics for the delivery integration and commissioning of parcel sorting technology at its international postal center (IPC) in Niederaula The contract includes a high-performance cross-belt sorter for small parcels with several high-speed inductions and conveyor technology as well as intelligent control the strong growth in online commerce has also had a significant impact on the company’s IPC satellite in Niederaula While the volume of international lettermail continues to fall the number of small and sometimes oddly shaped e-commerce parcels is rising DHL hopes that efficient processing of consignments in different formats and weight categories – starting at 20g – using Siemens’ equipment will result in near 100% sorting precision the ergonomically designed workstations at the conveyor belts will ensure optimum working conditions for its employees “After successfully bringing the contract for the IPC in Frankfurt am Main to a close we are pleased to now also be equipping the Niederaula satellite with our dependable hardware and software,” said Michael Reichle “With this newest contract we are further rolling out our proven technology and continuing our long-year The scope of supply includes a Siemens VarioSort Twin cross-belt sorter featuring 231 carriers with a length of more than 230m some 370m of conveyor systems and 200 special parcel terminals will be installed The ARTread reading and coding system used at the Niederaula IPC satellite is based on the solution Siemens Logistics successfully implemented in DHL’s Frankfurt am Main facility which enables high read rates while also accounting for smaller items in diverse shapes and packaging types Thanks for being a part of the SDE community Forgot password? 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Due to incredible demand, and at the request of fans who were caught out with the speed in which it sold out in January, we are making a further 500 copies of the SDE-exclusive Mark Knopfler One Deep River blu-ray available Issued on his own British Grove label via EMI One Deep River features 12 elegant new Knopfler songs richly melodic guitar playing are all present and correct and as dazzling as ever The SDE-exclusive blu-ray is only available via the SDE shop and features the album plus five bonus tracks All 17 tracks are mixed in immersive Dolby Atmos and available in the highest resolution stereo: 192 kHz / 24 bit Neither audio streams are available anywhere else on a physical product One Deep River will be released on 12 April 2024 via British Grove/EMI There’s a chance this further quantity will ship a little later than release date Pre-order via the SDE shop using this link or the button below SuperDeluxeEdition.com helps fans around the world discover physical music and discuss releases SDE participates in various affiliate programs including Amazon and earns from qualifying purchases Sign up for our newsletter for special updates and alerts direct to your inbox Please check your email to confirm your subscription A central German town has been struck by food thieves yet again. The AP reported on Monday that an unknown number of thieves stole 5 metric tons (5.5 tons) of Nutella from a trailer in the town of Bad Hersfeld which is manufactured by the Italian company Ferrero was said to be worth an estimated 16,000 euros ($20,710) Seven pallets loaded with jars of the spread had been swiped sometime between Friday afternoon and Sunday night from a truck trailer The trailer had been parked in an out-of-use railway station The series of thefts marks perhaps the largest food theft since 2012, when millions of dollars of maple syrup were stolen from a Quebec warehouse -- a facility which is said to house 10 million pounds of maple syrup in barrels the equivalent of half the yearly US production of the syrup Also in 2012, Nutella became the object of a lawsuit when four American mothers filed class-action suits claiming that Nutella engaged in misleading marketing in order to sell its product The women said words like "nutritious" and "healthy," used in the company's television ads led them to believe that the spread they were feeding their children for breakfast had nutritional value when in fact it contained twice as much sugar as jam or syrup and contains little protein the US-based distributor of the product agreed to modify information in its advertising campaigns to better suit the content of the spread The energy drink Red Bull, stolen from a trailer in Niederaula, has apparently been a popular target of thefts in the past in the United States. In 2011, a string of Red Bull thefts made news in southern California with police saying the drink appeared to be in high demand for resale a Munich-based e-commerce and logistics startup emerges with the opening of its first fully autonomous fulfillment centre The launch of the advaCentre comes after raising a previously undisclosed $50 million in early-stage equity financing last summer advastore was founded in 2020 by Flaschenpost founder Dieter Büchl Flaschenpost was part of Germany’s largest-ever tech acquisition when Dr Oetker Group acquired the last-mile delivery business for $1 billion advastore’s proprietary technology uses robotics and AI to redefine the conventional order fulfilment process human-free picking and packing of products — AI defines the most efficient packaging for each specific order and selects the ideal method and route based on the product's dimensions and mass — a first in the industry By diving into the world of robotics and AI we're doing more than just streamlining the fulfillment process; we're turning it into a powerhouse that lets retailers stand toe-to-toe with the big industry players It's all about nailing efficiency and accuracy at every step of the supply chain making sure our clients are ready to take on the fast pace of today's e-commerce scene.” advastore also sets a precedent in environmental responsibility the startup minimises packaging material and waste and the strategic location of the advastore automated warehouse in Hessian Niederaula “advastore is the first global player to make e-commerce fulfillment automated end-to-end,” says Christian Meermann while advastore’s technology and warehouse solutions will allow merchants to keep logistics costs low and improve process quality also provide e-commerce customers a more top-notch experience compared to current solutions we’re thrilled to partner with Dieter again and the entire advastore crew as they help online retailers compete in an increasingly competitive market.” Would you like to write the first comment?