News Industry In brief…


Rotherham-based Redirack has been awarded funding from the government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF). The company is developing a wholly new concept for the logistics market called RediLogX which will provide cus- tomers with an automated system to control the throughput and stor- age of high value and perishable goods whilst saving significant operating costs and improving car- bon footprint impact. RediRack is said to be the only manufacturer of bolt free racking in the UK and one of the largest manufacturers of racking products in Europe. www.redirack.co.uk


Mobile Fun, the online retailer of mobile accessories, has extended its warehouse and distribution cen- tre to meet increasing sales. The 25 per cent additional space come as a result of Mobile Fun’s successful international expansion over the past 18 months, with the launch of four new websites, in Spain, The Netherlands, Italy and the US, adding to its portfolio of sites in the UK, France and Germany. www.mobilefun.co.uk


B&B Attachments, independent supplier of forklift truck attachments in the UK has appointed Tim Christian, as chairman. Christian, founder of business consultancy, strategic planning and management advisory firm, TC Associations, will take on a consultancy role, to drive the business forward. www.bandbattachments.com


Hertfordshire-based leaf chain manufacturer, FB Chain, has announced an increase in its export business. Overseas orders now account for some 40 per cent of FB’s annual turnover with demand for the company’s range of chain products particularly strong from manufacturers and users of forklift trucks and conveyor systems in Malaysia and the USA. www.fbchain.com


Events


IMHX 2013 19-22 March, NEC, Birmingham www.imhx.biz


Logistics Link South 12-13 Feb, Sandown Park, Esher http://south.logisticslink.co.uk


S4 New added-value features incorporated into IMHX


Visitors to IMHX 2013 will expe- rience many added-value activi- ties including an expanded conference programme and new feature areas.


The IMHX Logistics Excellence Conference will have two streams: firstly a themed series of seminars at strategic level delivered by renowned industry experts, and secondly a choice of case study presentations at operational level to demonstrate examples of logis- tics best practice. Details of the seminars will be available on the show’s website.


There will be a Skills & Apprenticeships Zone in a bid to


bring together talented young people and companies needing new recruits, spearheaded by the BITA Academy, a dedicated apprenticeship training facility operated in conjunction with City of Bristol College.


Established to help find and train the next generation of mate- rials handling engineers, the BITA Academy is supported by all the major manufacturers, sup- pliers and service firms. The Skills & Apprenticeships Zone will feature the winning vehicles from BITA’s Enduro Challenge engineering competition for sec- ondary schools, some hands-on


Barloworld SCS rewards software users


and drink manufacturers and logistics operations.


Barloworld Supply Chain Software (Barloworld SCS) cele- brated some of its top software users of 2012 including BAT, Carlsberg, DHL, LEGO Group & Automotive Distributors, with an awards ceremony at its annual User Forum event. This year’s User Forum took place on the 17th October at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull and was attended by 130 Barloworld SCS software users from all over the world, which included major retailers, food


The event enables Barloworld SCS customers to see the current products and learn about future planned developments. It is also an opportunity to network with industry colleagues and meet the Barloworld SCS sales and devel- opment teams. “We use the Barloworld SCS user forum as a chance to talk openly to our customers and get valuable feedback about our products” said Kevin Boake, MD of Barloworld SCS. The User of the Year titles are awarded to Barloworld SCS cus- tomers, based on how their use of Barloworld SCS software has benefitted their operations. Visit www.barloworldscs.com for more information on winners.


Event focuses on upgrading logistics


Smart Storage and Applied Automation was the theme at SSI Schaefer’s recent event hosted at Teva UK in West Yorkshire. Delegates not only heard the numerous advantages of upgrad- ing their existing logistics opera- tions when combining low level automation with more efficient smart storage systems but they got an opportunity to take a ‘behind the scenes’ look at Teva’s own automated distribution centre.


Teva, part of one of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world and the UK’s leading generic manufacturer of pharma- ceutical goods despatching over four million items per day, opened its doors to show fellow industry leaders how they had successfully migrated from a labour intensive manual ware- housing operation to a new auto- mated distribution centre. With the help of SSI Schaefer,


Teva UK significantly increased its storage capacity, improved overall picking performance and sharpened efficiency and cus- tomer service levels all whilst reducing labour overheads. www.ssi-schaefer.co.uk


engineering activities and a con- sultation area for employers. Also new at IMHX will be the


UKWA 3PL Zone, hosted by the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA), and the International Visitors’ Lounge, where overseas visitors can relax or hold meetings. With many exhibitors using IMHX as the launch pad for new products and services and over 40 first-time exhibitors already confirmed for the expected 400 stands, visitors can expect a host of new tech- nologies and innovative ideas for materials handling.


www.imhx.biz


Board game teaches kids about logistics


Two former school teachers are seeking business partners from the logistics community to help develop an innovative board game that has been devised to teach young people about logis- tics while they play.


Andy Page and Pat Smedley hope that their game – Business on the Move – will also excite and inspire young people to develop their understanding of broader business and enterprise issues and environmental matters. “Players must make the same decisions businesses make every day. How do I best deliver? Will I make a profit? How should I grow? How can I cut my carbon footprint?” says Page.


The game has been trialled and refined with the help of over 30 schools, teachers and 530 young learners aged 9 to 19. Roger Williams, chief execu- tive officer of the UKWA, which represents the interests of some 700 logistics services companies, comments: “Andy and Pat have developed a product that will broaden young people’s under- standing of global supply chains and raise their career aspirations. I am sure the industry will give this excellent project the support it deserves.”


If you would like to learn more visit businessonthemove.org


NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 Materials Handling & Logistics


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