News | Industry Updates
Rhea Vendors Group and SECO to collaborate in vending and new retail Clea will be installed on all the Rhea new
Rhea Vendors Group SpA, producer of customised vending machines, and SECO, center of excellence in the field of technological innovation for IoT and AI solutions, have signed a partnership agreement for the development of innovative solutions in the world of vending, coffee machines and new retail. The first step of this partnership envisages
the adoption of Clea, the integrated software platform with IoT and artificial intelligence functionalities developed by SECO Mind, on the new generation of Rhea vending machines. Rhea will use a custom solution powered
by SECO, an integrated system combining an edge platform and a human-machine interface which has recently entered the mass production phase.
machines, giving rise to an all-in-one infrastructure which collects data from the field, transfers them to the Cloud and analyses them in real time, returning high value-added information enabling data- driven business processes. This will allow Rhea to make its installed base
monitoring more efficient and effective, optimising its asset management costs and, above all, to activate a new set of functionalities available both to its own customers and to the end users. The installation of Clea on Rhea’s machines
will start in 2022, with its up-to-speed deployment on approximately 40,000 units in the forthcoming future. “We are delighted for this partnership with Rhea, with which we share the passion and
the commitment to innovation, quality and sustainability. We are happy to support our clients in a scenario where IoT and AI are becoming a must-have for every company," said Massimo Mauri, chief executive of SECO. "Innovation, quality and sustainability have
always been the core values of Rhea. We are very pleased to find these same values in SECO, a solid and dynamic company with whom, I am sure, we will share a future of mutual commitment and satisfaction. Implementing and using an IoT-Ai platform like CLEA means keeping in step with a rapidly evolving world and being able to offer more and more innovative and customisable solutions that will further increase the level of service for our customers”, said Andrea Pozzolini, chief executive of Rhea Vendors Group.
Opening 'The Chocolate Box’
The Barry Callebaut Group, cocoa and chocolate manufacturer, has opened 'The Barry Callebaut Chocolate Box', its new global distribution center in Lokeren, Belgium. The Chocolate Box is described as the
world’s largest chocolate warehouse and will be the logistical hub for all packed Belgian chocolate and decoration products, produced in Barry Callebaut’s chocolate factories in Wieze and Halle, Belgium. The Chocolate Box is the result of a
successful partnership between Barry Callebaut, the real estate developer WDP and the city of Lokeren. With a total investment amount of €100 million, it is the largest investment Barry Callebaut has ever made in its operations network. The Chocolate Box increases the efficiency of Barry Callebaut’s global logistics and will allow the Group to serve customers even faster. At Lokeren, the warehouse Is ideally
located near the E17 highway, facilitating carrier transport throughout Western Europe and with direct access to the Port of Antwerp for global shipping.
Construction began in the summer of 2019. Less than 24 months later, the building, spanning a total surface of 12 football fields, was completed. In the fully automated high bay warehouse, 41 metres high, up to 125 000 pallets can be stored at a constant temperature of 18°C. Over 120 employees, of whom 40 are in newly created positions, are securing smooth operations.
First building in the Benelux with “BREEAM Outstanding” certification The Barry Callebaut Chocolate Box is also one of the world’s the most sustainable chocolate warehouses. The Chocolate Box is the first building in the Benelux with a “BREEAM Outstanding” certification, the highest standard in sustainable logistics. The building is fully energy-positive, as it can completely fulfill its own energy consumption. In order to achieve this certificate, the newest techniques in sustainable building have been used: solar panels, air treatment groups, rain water and heat recovery, humidity control, insulation and geothermal energy. The
wellbeing of the employees, an essential part of the “BREEAM Outstanding” certification, is ensured through access to natural daylight throughout the building, zones for relaxation and storage facilities for e-bikes. Peter Boone, chief executive of the Barry
Callebaut Group, said: “The Chocolate Box is a milestone for Barry Callebaut. From Lokeren, all packed chocolate products – mainly under its Belgian chocolate brand Callebaut – will be shipped to the rest of the world. The Chocolate Box is an example of how we execute our smart growth strategy, increasing efficiency and serving our customers in a more sustainable way.”
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