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DRAINTECH TANKERS INCREASES AROCS FLEET NUMBERS

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DRAINTECH TANKERS INCREASES AROCS FLEET NUMBERS

So delighted was Draintech Tankers with its first two Mercedes-Benz Arocs tankers, it has ordered another couple. 

The Andover-based operator previously acquired its trucks from two other manufacturers.

However, in the face of soaring demand from customers, director Robert Simpson last year had a look at operations. 

For example, he main aim was to reduce truck downtime.

Therefore, it made sense to look to the closest dealer to Draintech Tankers, which was Marshall Truck & Van, also in Andover.

In contrast, the nearest agent for the other manufactuers were 20 and 10 miles away, respectively.

First impressions were a big factor for Simpson.

“I could see immediately that [Arocs] was a quality product,” he said. 

“Furthermore, Marshall Truck & Van’s proximity to us was a big attraction.

“On this basis, I was very happy to order our first Mercedes-Benz vehicles.”

 Draintech Tankers specialises in emptying septic tanks, cesspits and sewage treatment plants, for customers in west Hampshire. 

It also provides a variety of associated services for example, high-pressure jetting and drain unblocking.

In other words, the new fleet additions at Draintech Tankers had to fit the bill in terms of onboard equipment.

As a result, the two vehicles that entered service last autumn both have stainless steel vacuum tanks by VJ Engineering, of Rugby. 

In addition, each is also equipped with a Jurop RV520 hydraulic drain pump and washdown jetting system.

 One is an 8×4 Arocs 3248 with 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder engine producing 476hp. 

The other, a 6×2 Arocs 2542 variant, is powered by a 421hp version of the same engine. 

“Having commissioned our first Arocs in September, we had no hesitation in returning to order a pair of identical chassis,” said Simpson.

 The new trucks are scheduled for delivery in the autumn and will join five other trucks on the fleet.

FIRST eTRUCK CUSTOMER ANNOUNCED BY MAN

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FIRST eTRUCK CUSTOMER ANNOUNCED BY MAN

DB Schenker will be the first eTruck customer when it takes delivery of the battery powered MANs in 2024. 

The first MAN eTrucks will be produced in small series in Munich in the first half of 2024.

Therefore, the truck manufacturer has been in talks with potential customers who will pilot the first run of vehicles.

Essentially, DB Schenker said it wanted to gain practical experience with the product as early as possible. 

As a result, it will be setting up its own charging infrastructure and intelligent route planning. 

In addition, the operator will use other digital services from MAN for example, eManager, ServiceCare and MAN Driver App. 

As the first eTruck customer, DB Schenker will run volume semitrailer tractors, so-called ultra semitrailer tractors. 

The low semitrailer height of around 950mm makes it possible to transport electrically volume trailers with an internal height of 3m. 

In total, 10 MAN eTrucks that DB Schenker will receive in 2024 will be this configuration. 

Meanwhile, the other electric trucks – arriving in 2025 and 2026 – are set to be ultra-tractor units and swap body trucks.

The production of the future eTrucks has been prepared at MAN since 2021 in the MAN eMobility Center. 

Elementary components of the eTrucks will be produced in Nuremberg in the future.

MAN manufactures the high-voltage batteries at this site – currently still in small series production. 

However, from the beginning of 2025 the battery packs will be produced in large series. 

To this end, the company is investing around €100 million over the next five years at the production site for internal combustion engines.

Alexander Vlaskamp, MAN’s CEO, said the demand for the eTruck was “already enormous”. 

“More and more of our customers are setting themselves extremely ambitious decarbonisation targets,” he added.

NEW AMAROK: WHAT TO EXPECT IN SA

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NEW AMAROK: WHAT TO EXPECT IN SA

The second-generation Amarok, which was designed in Germany and Australia but is being built in South Africa, goes on sale this month.

In South Africa, the new Volkswagen Amarok range will be available in the following trim lines: Amarok (the base model, in single and double cab guise), Life, Style, PanAmericana, and the top-of-the-range Aventura.

FOUR DIESEL ENGINES AND NEW 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2.0 TDI 110 kW: This four-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission produces 110 kW of power with maximum torque of 350 Nm. The top speed is 170 km/h and fuel consumption is 6.9 litres/100 km.

2.0 TDI 125 kW: This four-cylinder engine with a six-speed manual transmission produces 125 kW of power with maximum torque of 405 Nm. The top speed is 180 km/h. Fuel consumption on the 2.0 TDI 125 kW is 6.9 litres/100 km. On the 2.0 TDI 125 kW with 4MOTION, fuel consumption is 7.1 litres/100 km, while the 2.0 TDI six-speed automatic with 4MOTION uses 7.7 litres/100 km.

2.0 BiTDI 154 kW 4MOTION: This four-cylinder engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission produces 154 kW of power with maximum torque of 500 Nm. The top speed is 180km/h and fuel consumption is 7.5 litres/100 km.

3.0 TDI V6 184 kW 4MOTION: This six-cylinder engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission produces 184 kW of power with maximum torque of 600 Nm. The top speed is 180km/h and fuel consumption is 8.4 litres/100 km.

AMAROK SINGLE CAB: WORKHORSE

We don’t have single cab pricing yet (this will be announced in about a month) but we can confirm that the new Amarok Single Cab is available in the following derivatives: Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 110 kW (Low Rider) five-speed manual, Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 125 kW six-speed manual, and Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 125 kW 4MOTION six-speed manual.

Standard features in the Amarok Single Cab include 16-inch steel wheels, 17-inch Combra alloy wheels, trailer hitch and rear differential lock (available in the Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 125 kW 4×2 and Amarok Single Cab 2.0 TDI 125 kW 4MOTION only), full-size steel spare wheel, LED headlights and halogen taillights, driver/passenger/side/curtain airbags, Bluetooth connectivity including wireless App-Connect, 10-inch colour touch-screen infotainment screen, electronically foldable side mirrors, multi-function steering wheel, and front centre armrest. A trailer hitch is also standard on all 125 kW model derivatives.

AMAROK DOUBLE CAB: BASIC FEATURES

The base Amarok Double Cab is available in the following derivatives: Amarok 2.0 TDI 110 kW five-speed manual, Amarok 2.0 TDI 125 kW six-speed manual, and Amarok 2.0 TDI 125 kW 4MOTION six-speed manual.

In addition to the standard features in the Amarok Single Cab range, the Amarok Double Cab comes further equipped with all-terrain tyres, side steps, driver knee airbag, Park Distance Control (rear), rearview camera, and cruise control.

NEW AMAROK LIFE: COMFORT

The new Amarok Life is available in the following derivatives: Amarok Life 2.0 TDI 125 kW six-speed manual, Amarok Life 2.0 TDI 125 kW 4MOTION six-speed manual, Amarok Life 2.0 TDI 125 kW 4MOTION six-speed auto, and Amarok Life 2.0 BiTDI 154 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto.

In addition to standard features in the Amarok Double Cab range, the Amarok Life also comes standard with 17-inch Combra alloy wheels (standard on the 2.0 TDI 125 kW models), 18-inch Amadora alloy wheels, full-size alloy spare wheel and seat heating (standard on the 2.0 TDI 154 kW model), power tailgate lock, Park Distance Control (front), leather multi-function steering wheel, seat height adjustment for the front passenger, lumbar support adjustment in the front seats, cabin carpet floor covering, rubber floor mats, cruise control with speed limiter, electronic parking brake, and privacy windows.

NEW AMAROK STYLE: COMFORT AND DESIGN

The new Amarok Style is available in the following derivatives: Amarok Style 2.0 BiTDI 154 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto, Amarok Style 2.0 BiTDI 154 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto (Comfort Package), Amarok Style 3.0 TDI V6 184 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto, and Amarok Style 3.0 TDI V6 184 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto (Comfort Package).

In addition to standard features in the Amarok Life, the Amarok Style is further equipped with the following standard features: 18-inch Amadora alloy wheels (standard on all 2.0 TDI 154 kW and 3.0 V6 184 kW models), 20-inch Bendigo alloy wheels, load bed liner, tonneau cover and cargo management system (standard on the Comfort Package), side steps, chrome tubular styling bar, high beam light assist, multi-collision brake system, autonomous emergency braking, lane assist, tyre pressure monitor, USB port integrated into the rearview mirror, 230 V power socket inverter, mobile inductive charging, heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, Savona leather seats, front heated seats, ambient lighting, 12-inch diagonal colour touch-screen infotainment system, 12-inch active info display, carpet floor mats, and keyless entry with push button start.

NEW AMAROK PANAMERICANA: OFF-ROAD AND DESIGN

The new Amarok PanAmericana is available in the following derivatives: Amarok PanAmericana 2.0 BiTDI 154 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto, Amarok PanAmericana 2.0 BiTDI 154 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto (Comfort Package), Amarok PanAmericana 3.0 TDI V6 184 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto, and Amarok PanAmericana 3.0 TDI V6 184 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto (Comfort Package).

In addition to standard features in the Amarok Style, the Amarok PanAmericana also comes standard with black-painted 18-inch Amadora alloy wheels (standard on all 2.0 TDI 154 kW and 3.0 V6 184 kW models), 20-inch Bendigo alloy wheels, electric roller cover for the load bed and cargo management system (standard on the Comfort Package), IQ.Light LED headlights, LED tail lights, side steps, improved suspension, black tubular styling bar, silver roof rails, metal underbody protection, load box bed liner, rear cross traffic alert, Park Assist, Front Assist including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist, Area View 360° camera, fatigue detection, evasive steering, blind spot monitoring, Harmon Kardon sound system, Discover Media navigation system, Cricket leather seats, and rubber floor mats.

NEW AMAROK AVENTURA: LIFESTYLE AND DESIGN

The top-of-the-range derivative in the Amarok model line-up is the Aventura 3.0 TDI V6 184 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto, which comes with chrome finishes (mirrors, door handles, and side steps), 21-inch Varberg alloy wheels, body colour sports bar, electric roller cover for the load bed, and premium carpet floor mats.

PRICING AND WARRANTIES

Pricing for the double cab starts at R599 000 for the Amarok 2.0 TDI 110 kW five-speed manual. The most expensive double cab – at R1 105 000 – is the Amarok Aventura 3.0 TDI V6 184 kW 4MOTION 10-speed auto. The only optional features are exterior paint colours.

The new Amarok comes standard with a four-year/120 000 km warranty, a five-year/100 000 km EasyDrive Maintenance Plan, and a six-year anti-corrosion warranty. The service interval is 15 000 km.

Pricing for the Amarok Single Cab range will be available closer to the retail date in Q2 2023.

SELF-DRIVING TRUCKS ARE HERE!

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SELF-DRIVING TRUCKS ARE HERE!

Daimler Truck plans to introduce series-production driverless trucks in the United States by 2030. GIANENRICO GRIFFINI got a taste of things to come when he hopped aboard a Freightliner Cascadia self-driving truck on the highways around Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

We don’t have to wait years to see self-driving trucks on public roads. They are already a reality in the United States, with some prototypes based on the Freightliner Cascadia platform. Built by Daimler Truck North America, the Class 8 long-haul trucks, equipped with Level 4 automated driving systems, are undergoing field tests in actual operating conditions on interstate routes around Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Albuquerque is the HQ of Torc Robotics, a company acquired by Daimler Truck in 2019. Torc develops the software and integrates and fuses the inputs from different sensors – such as cameras, lasers, radars, and lidars – to allow safe automatic driving on high-traffic density highways. A lidar is a device that uses a laser beam to measure the distance from an object, returning high-resolution 3D information on the surrounding environment.

ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH

The validation tests are not held in confined areas, but on multi-lane highways. The tests are conducted using a standard tractor-semi-trailer combination of 80 000 pounds (about 36 tonnes) running at the US maximum cruising speed of 65 mph (just under 105 km/h).

For safety reasons, a human safety driver assisted by a Torc Robotics engineer is always ready to take complete control of the articulated lorry if a risky situation arises during road tests. The safety driver also has a crucial role in providing the software specialists with the feedback needed to program the onboard computer according to a prudent, safe, and fuel-conscious driving style, without hard braking and harsh accelerations.

WHY THE UNITED STATES?

Daimler Truck’s decision to develop autonomous driving solutions first in the United States depends on multiple factors. Firstly, the US has the most branched and extensive motorway network globally, while the speed difference between trucks and cars is not as high as in the EU.

Moreover, US highways represent a more structured environment than an urban setting. There are lanes headed in the same direction, and it’s easier to predict where cars are supposed to be going. In this environment, the Freightliner Cascadia can handle most traffic situations: lane merges, merging into traffic from a ramp, changing lanes, and slowing down or speeding up.

The US legislative framework is also favourable, since the only counterpart to the truck manufacturers is the US Department of Transportation (DoT), which is proactive in facilitating the introduction of technical innovations.

Furthermore, self-driving 18-wheelers respond to clear business cases and market needs, such as a continuous increase in freight demand transported by road (a 30% increase is expected by 2030) and a growing shortage of heavy vehicle drivers. According to American Trucking Association (ATA) estimates, unfilled driver jobs slid to just under 78 000 units in 2022, down about 4% from more than 81 000 in 2021. This is still a considerable number, which according to ATA forecasts is bound to skyrocket to more than 160 000 units by 2031.

The driver shortage is due, among other reasons, to a significant number of retirements and the industry’s failure to recruit more women, who account for only 8% of the overall workforce.

WHY THE UNITED STATES?

Daimler Truck’s decision to develop autonomous driving solutions first in the United States depends on multiple factors. Firstly, the US has the most branched and extensive motorway network globally, while the speed difference between trucks and cars is not as high as in the EU.

Moreover, US highways represent a more structured environment than an urban setting. There are lanes headed in the same direction, and it’s easier to predict where cars are supposed to be going. In this environment, the Freightliner Cascadia can handle most traffic situations: lane merges, merging into traffic from a ramp, changing lanes, and slowing down or speeding up.

The US legislative framework is also favourable, since the only counterpart to the truck manufacturers is the US Department of Transportation (DoT), which is proactive in facilitating the introduction of technical innovations.

Furthermore, self-driving 18-wheelers respond to clear business cases and market needs, such as a continuous increase in freight demand transported by road (a 30% increase is expected by 2030) and a growing shortage of heavy vehicle drivers. According to American Trucking Association (ATA) estimates, unfilled driver jobs slid to just under 78 000 units in 2022, down about 4% from more than 81 000 in 2021. This is still a considerable number, which according to ATA forecasts is bound to skyrocket to more than 160 000 units by 2031.

The driver shortage is due, among other reasons, to a significant number of retirements and the industry’s failure to recruit more women, who account for only 8% of the overall workforce.

The primary and secondary Electronic Braking System (EBS) Controllers, in particular, offer precise and reliable controls to decelerate the truck and trailer. Should the primary EBS encounter any critical faults, the secondary EBS will take over to execute a safety procedure called Minimal Risk Manoeuvre (MRM), whereby two servo motors electronically assist the steering gear. Should either of the servo motors experience a fault, the second unit takes over completely to provide the required steering commands to execute the MRM procedure.

Torc engineers have also fully addressed cybersecurity concerns – which are of paramount importance in developing autonomous driving solutions – via anti-hacker protection.

Finally, although Daimler Truck North America has not disclosed any figures on forecasted autonomous driving vehicle sales, it does expect that self-driving vehicles will manage 6% of freight volume by the end of this decade.

ISUZU FORGES AHEAD!

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ISUZU FORGES AHEAD!

ISUZU Motors South Africa had a cracker of a year in 2022, notching up its 10th consecutive year as the truck market leader. As COLIN WINDELL reports, however, it certainly isn’t resting on its laurels.

With “three exciting products” due this year, the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) power for selected models, and the introduction of Euro 5 engines for some variants, ISUZU is set to hit the headlines a number of times in 2023.

SALES GROWTH

ISUZU grew its sales across the board for light, medium, and heavy commercial vehicles (LCVs, MCVs, and HCVs) through 2022. In fact, the factory in Gqeberha is running at full production capacity for a single shift when it comes to LCVs. The truck line, meanwhile, is operating at up to 80% capacity with 16 units a day coming off the line.

The South African truck market including van and bus recorded total sales of 30 153 units for the 2022 calendar year – an increase of 11.4% overall on 2021 numbers – with ISUZU registering growth of 4.7%.

Compared to 2021, the MCV market increased by 17.8%, with ISUZU sales in this category growing by 10.12%. The HCV market increased by 19.6% and ISUZU sales increased by 0.24%.

“Our growth in light of supply constraints can be attributed to the relentless hard work of the greater ISUZU team, the backbone of which is formed by our dealer network and their relationships with our customers,” says Craig Uren, senior vice president for revenue generation at ISUZU.

ADAPTING TO CHALLENGES AND MOVING TOWARDS A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT

Uren says that the transportation industry on a global level is in crisis in all areas, from shipping through to rail freight and road transport. This has been brought on by a series of compounding factors – from the Covid pandemic to the war in Ukraine and the semi-conductor shortage.

“Within this spectrum comes the decision as to how we position ourselves in an environment that makes it very tough to run a business,” he says.

“There is a vicious cycle of issues, including the water supply, power, rising inflation, escalated living costs, and growing unemployment. South Africa has been severely tested… we are resilient, however, and will find a way to thrive,” he continues. “The need for truck transport is not going away, but we do need to adapt to managing the business of running trucks in the current environment.”

Uren says ISUZU is acutely aware of the need to move forward towards a cleaner environment in line with global trends, and to work within a plan of environmental, social, and corporate governance. In this vein, ISUZU introduced Euro 5 technology into its New Generation (NG) N and F series truck ranges in May last year, with more advances to come. “In the short-term, we will move to dual-fuel capability on all our models, with CNG offered on selected variants, while we will also expand the Euro 5 rollout,” he reveals. “In the medium-term, we will introduce battery electric options on selected models, with the long-term possibility of alternative technology on selected models.”

Uren says business in this country isn’t a bed of roses: “Although 2022 was the best market year to date, with 30 153 units and improved ISUZU sales, the failing power infrastructure in South Africa is having a visible impact on all business operations. Sadly, it is also likely to be with us for some time.

“In the extra heavy-duty category, it was the biggest market year ever. Some of this can be ascribed to the fact there are so many more trucks on the road because of the failure of Transnet. On the other hand, in the medium sector, we are seeing how small businesses are struggling to finance new vehicles,” he continues.

PROACTIVE CUSTOMER SOLUTIONS

Uren notes that to make it easier for customers, ISUZU has been proactive in developing solutions such as the ISUZU Mobility Cents Per Kilometre (CPK) maintenance contract. This is based on actual kilometres travelled and can be applied to all new ISUZU trucks with less than 9 000 km on the odometer while under 12 months old at point of sale.

“The CPK plan allows the company to match its revenue generated by a particular vehicle to the actual expense incurred in a particular month. It also follows seasonal trends such as limited distances covered during low season,” he explains. “In addition, should a vehicle be off the road for crash repairs, there will be no maintenance charges in the absence of kilometres covered.” Uren highlights the fact there is no minimum billing per month, meaning that businesses can maximise their cash flow, paying monthly only for the kilometres driven rather than the distance predicted.

Support for customers also comes in the form of fleet management solutions. “The entire ISUZU range is telematics-ready, with stolen vehicle recovery hardware installed at the factory,” notes Uren. “This includes a panic button and driver ID tag reader already installed. Compatible with the MiX Telematics fleet management system, it is also compatible with existing third-party fleet management systems at a small additional cost.”

This is one of many services provided by the company. “We are proud to offer ISUZU operators a complete suite of services and our package of solutions is captured in the ISUZU tagline ‘With you for the long run’,” emphasises Uren.

CONTINENTAL GROWTH AND COOPERATION

South Africa is not an isolated entity and the truck market in Africa is growing, with a slow move away from second-hand imports of questionable quality to warranty-backed new vehicles.

ISUZU is an exporter to these markets: currently, it supplies D-Max bakkies in both left- and right-hand drive to the whole continent except for North Africa, with trucks being sold in various Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. Gen 6 single cab bakkies are both exported and retained locally as a business workhorse to assist entrepreneurs, while the far more upmarket Gen 7 D-Max double cab is targeted at the local leisure market. “Buyers in other Africa countries prefer the older generation because it is a tried-and-tested model with less of the in-cabin tech that is included in the new version,” explains Uren.

He is upbeat about prospects for the continent: “Last year, 25 000 new ISUZU trucks were sold in African countries and, while this does not seem to be a large number, it is growing and the full potential of this market is slowly being realised. Kenya is a major market and ISUZU East Africa is a big operation as an assembler of semi knocked down (SKD) truck units, although unfortunately a variety of factors have meant that a SKD factory planned for Ghana has had to be delayed for the time being.”

Strengthening cooperation across Africa can only help to improve these prospects, as Uren points out: “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement is vital for the whole of the continent, and we are working closely with the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) to develop and implement strategies for cooperation and growth throughout the continent.”

IFOY FINALISTS ARE REVEALED!

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IFOY FINALISTS ARE REVEALED!

The International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) Awards represent the Oscars of supply chain management. These 25 products stand to gain glory in the 2023 awards!

A total of 25 products from 23 companies have been nominated for the 2023 IFOY Awards. These finalists will undergo the IFOY audit at Test Camp Intralogistics at Messe Dortmund from March 27 to 30. Journalists from around the world – including FOCUS – will travel to Dortmund to put the finalists through their paces.

“The audit of the IFOY finalists promises a spectacular setting this year. With their selection, the jury has lined up the best of the best in intralogistics. They show where the journey of intralogistics is heading in the future: classic warehouse technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated; quick commerce, robotics, and AI are making their way into logistics; and innovative details are making warehouse life more efficient, easier, and more productive,” emphasises Anita Würmser, chairperson of the IFOY jury.

Intralogistics specialists AGILOX, Combilift, Continental, Crown, DS AUTOMOTION, HIKROBOT, IdentPro, Jungheinrich, Kemaro, Libiao Robotics, Mobile Easykey, NIMMSTA, Raymond, STILL, Volume Lagersysteme, and Youibot Robotics are all aiming to win one of the trophies. When it comes to start-ups, meanwhile, the finalists are 1MRobotics, Loady, ff Fördersysteme, HUNIC, Predimo, Sentics, and sereact.

FIVE WAREHOUSE TRUCKS NOMINATED

The jury selected a total of five manually operated warehouse trucks for the finals: three in the highlifter category and two lowlifters.

The Aisle-Master OP from Irish forklift specialist Combilift, with a lift height of 12.1 m and a load capacity of two tonnes, combines the advantages of a narrow-aisle forklift and an order picker. The forklift shows its strength in the high-performance segment and manoeuvrability in narrow aisles, for rack delivery and bulk order picking. The combi device can also be used as a conventional forklift truck with rubber tyres for indoor and outdoor applications, such as loading and unloading trucks.

The brand new SP 1500 from US supplier Crown has been nominated as a finalist before its official market launch. The completely redesigned order picker – with a reach height of 11.2 m and load capacities of up to 1.25 tonnes – has been optimised in terms of all-round visibility, performance, and speeds. With its ergonomic operator area and numerous innovative details, it is aimed not only at traditional order picking, but above all at the requirements of retail and e-commerce.

Two finalist slots have been secured by the Hamburg intralogistics specialist STILL. The company’s further developed PXV vertical order picker impressed the jury with its gripping height of 14.5 m. Equipped with numerous safety and comfort features, a person on the 1.2-tonne highlifter can reliably pick loads in both wide and narrow aisles, thanks to its compact and variable vehicle dimensions.

The jury also gave the green light to STILL’s manoeuvrable pedestrian pallet truck, the EXH 16. With a load capacity of 1.6 tonnes, this lowlifter is particularly suitable for truck transport and last-mile applications. Advantageously, the lift truck features a unique tiller head with an integrated display for intuitive handling.

US manufacturer Raymond also made it to the finals of the lowlifter category, with its 8910 End Rider Pallet Truck. The rugged 3.63-tonne capacity pallet truck was designed with a focus on energy efficiency, and can be tailored to a variety of applications including cold storage, wharves, loading and unloading, and long trips to handling centres. It incorporates numerous options for better ergonomics and more productivity.

FOUR NOMINATIONS FOR AGVS AND AMRS

The bandwidth of IFOY applicants is traditionally large and internationally diverse in the field of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) which, for some years now, have not only come from the intralogistics sector. This time, four suppliers made it to the finals.

The new AGILOX ODM (omnidirectional dolly mover) from Austrian supplier AGILOX is an intelligent logistics robot for small-load carriers weighing up to 300 kg. It does not require any additional infrastructure or navigation aids, can turn while stationary, and offers parallel driving. The first ODM can be installed in under 12 hours; each additional installation takes just 15 minutes. The core target group is the pharmaceutical and electronics industries.

The AMR IL 1200 from Continental Automotive Technologies is designed for use in warehouses or logistics centres, as well as production logistics with heavy pallets, such as those found in the automotive and metalworking industries. With its integrated lifting system and various body options, the AMR IL 1200 transports pallets weighing up to 1.2 tonnes at a speed of 2 m/s.

The F4-1000C Forklift Mobile Robot from Chinese manufacturer HIKROBOT, with a load capacity of one tonne, is an alternative to conventional warehouse forklifts and, with its positioning accuracy, is particularly suitable for 24/7 use in extremely narrow aisles, as well as for material handling in the automotive, manufacturing, and consumer electronics industries. Under the control of the in-house Robotic Control System (RCS), the F4-1000C works in tandem with other vehicles.

Also from China, the Automatic Trolley AT100 of Youibot Robotics consists of the brand-new AT100 AMR assistance picking robot and the YOUIFleet fleet management system. The intuitive combination of AMR and batch picking trolley for loads up to 100 kg manages a speed of 1,5 m/s and was developed specifically for sorting and picking tasks in existing infrastructures, as well as for workflows of retailers and 3PLs.

THREE INTRALOGISTICS ROBOTS IN THE FINAL

There are three automated warehouse systems in the intralogistics robot category.

The automated, ultra-compact, and scalable PowerCube compact warehouse system from Hamburg-based intralogistics company Jungheinrich adapts to almost any infrastructure and container dimensions. It can be used 24/7 across all industries and delivers four times the storage density of shelf racking at room heights of up to 12 m. The powerful lithium-ion shuttles can simultaneously pick up two 50-kg containers and load on the fly.

With the Airrob container handling robotic system from Chinese manufacturer Libiao Robotics, the robots can “climb” up the shelves to store, pick, sort, and move plastic containers weighing up to 35 kg. This simple and cost-effective solution is particularly suitable for micro-fulfilment centres or warehouses on a production line. Airrob focuses on e-commerce, footwear, apparel, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and production parts storage.

Volume DIVE from Volume Lagersysteme is a sophisticated robotics-based storage and picking system for heights up to 14 m. The robot can pick and deliver totes at any position without a lifter. Standard euro containers are stored as well as beverage crates, which may also be used outside the system. Although DIVE was developed for quick commerce, it is also an alternative to energy-intensive mini-load applications. Throughput can be scaled up to 4 000 containers per hour. In the smallest version, Volume DIVE takes up only 16 m².

THREE NOMINATIONS FOR INTRALOGISTICS SOFTWARE

The jury nominated three solutions in total in the Intralogistics Software category.

The Industrial Truck Key Performance Indicator (FFZ-KPI) developed by Mobile Easykey as a component of its software enables the determination of a manufacturer-neutral fleet efficiency of the intralogistics fleet with only one key figure and a visual traffic light system. The basis of the FFZ-KPI is the OEE key figure for the overall equipment effectiveness of immobile equipment. The FFZ-KPI adds further calculation parameters to the OEE, making the key figure for moving equipment calculable for the first time.

With the vehicle software ARCOS, the Austrian supplier DS AUTOMOTION enables devices to be used either as AGVs or AMRs. With the help of so-called “plannable autonomy”, the advantages of both technologies are combined. The user can use autonomous functions specifically where they bring advantages and prevent them where disadvantages predominate.

The Warehouse Execution System from IdentPro promises up to 30% higher productivity. It uses Internet of Things (IoT) sensors on the vehicles to make all warehouse processes visible in the digital twin in real time (RTLS). The digitisation solution, which can be used indoors and outdoors, achieves centimetre-precise localisation (+/-10 cm) of goods and vehicles, collaborative use of autonomous and manned industrial trucks, and smart distribution of driving orders.

THREE SPECIALS OF THE YEAR IN THE FINAL

Three products compete in the Special of the Year category.

The Light Tags from NIMMSTA are a new pick-by-light approach that promises up to 80% more efficiency without integration effort. The intelligence is in the Industrial Smart Watch, worn by the worker on their body. In the NIMMSTA app, a storage location is assigned once to each light tag, to which it is simply attached with an adhesive strip. When the worker approaches, the Smart Watch and Light Tag light up in the same colour and pattern.

The world’s first fully autonomous K900 dry-cleaning robot from Swiss supplier Kemaro can reduce cleaning costs by 70%, which amounts to more than US$37 000 per year (about R647 163) in a logistics company covering around 10 000 m2. The compact robots with integrated dust extraction systems navigate with the help of lidar and 3D sensors to clean even the toughest industrial dirt. Their speciality is large indoor spaces.

The addedVIEW fork camera with barcode scanning function from Jungheinrich is able to stack, scan, and transfer results in one go to any warehouse management system (WMS). The full-HD digital fork tine camera with integrated image processing software for barcode scanning detects whether the correct or incorrect barcode is located in front of the tine – even at great heights – as it passes by. An acknowledgement button near the steering wheel eliminates the need for hand scanners and makes unnecessary unstacking of incorrect goods a thing of the past.

FREEWAY TRANSFORMS BUSCOR’S FLEET MANAGEMENT

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FREEWAY TRANSFORMS BUSCOR’S FLEET MANAGEMENT

Running a commuter bus company in South Africa is fraught with challenges. But a recent decision by Buscor to partner with Freeway means that fleet management isn’t one of them.

Buscor is a privately owned commuter bus company in the Mpumalanga/Lowveld area. Since 1984, it has been contracted by the South African government to transport 180 000 passengers daily between their places of residence and work. At present, the fleet comprises 452 commuter buses, of which 411 are articulated bus trains.

According to Leon Grobbelaar, general manager (technical), the company has to contend with many challenges. “We are faced with poor road conditions, competition with the taxi industry, and constantly changing passenger travel times. Then, of course, there are the ever-increasing prices of fuel and parts. These increases – usually well above Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation – place us under immense pressure as an operator because our increases from government are usually CPI-based. We have to be cost-efficient to remain profitable and to survive,” he explains.

In order to be as efficient as possible, Buscor started using Freeway early in 2022 at its Nelspruit, White River, and Malelane workshops. “Freeway is used for everything to do with the management of the fleet, including vehicle asset management and tracking of intercompany asset movements, service scheduling, workshop reporting, and defect management, as well as stock control and purchasing,” says Grobbelaar, adding: “Freeway provides our technicians with digital job cards and guided inspections through a mobile app.”

The software is also used for cost control and the identification of reasons for high expenditure, invoice matching and processing, stock level management, part and vehicle warranties, and staff productivity management.

Before the introduction of Freeway, Buscor used a combination of paper and computerised systems. This was far from ideal. “All the job cards and part requisitions were done on paper, which then had to be manually captured on the electronic system – and the job cards often got lost together with the history of what was done to the vehicle,” recalls Grobbelaar. “We really needed a system to eliminate paper-based job cards. Reporting on our old system was very rigid and it was difficult to extract information.”

Freeway’s strong reporting functionality was a major consideration when Buscor decided to migrate to a new system. “Measuring staff productivity was extremely difficult beforehand, as it relied on paper and then entry into a spreadsheet, but Freeway has automated this functionality. So, we have good insight now into staff productivity,” he says.

Preventing overdue services was also previously a very labour-intensive task. “We didn’t have an automated process of importing the vehicle kilometres and comparing them to the next due service. It was clear that we needed a system which could automatically indicate when a service was due,” Grobbelaar explains.

Buscor also relied on technicians to say if a part was under warranty or not. “We really had no idea whether or not a part was still under warranty; Freeway now prevents parts from being purchased if the old part is still under warranty,” he reveals.

Implementation of Freeway has delivered many benefits to Buscor, from accurate and improved cost control – due to the ease of extracting reports – to a faster job card closure time. The latter is so much faster because the workshop managers can see when the work has been completed on the system. They do not have to wait for physical papers from the foreman before closing the job card.

Inspection sheets are far more accurate and complete than before. “The Freeway mobile app ensures all the questions must be answered during an inspection, and it is 100% clear who has done the inspection. A lot of valuable information can be extracted for a properly set up inspection list,” says Grobbelaar.

“Furthermore, services are now done on time, as Freeway automatically imports each vehicle’s mileage from our telematics system and then alerts us when a vehicle is due for its next service,” he adds.

Staff productivity has been improved, with Grobbelaar pointing out that reports can easily be extracted for each staff member to see productivity over a requested period and how much time was spent on jobs. Issuing time at the stores is also faster than ever before, as the storekeeper already knows what parts are required before the technician arrives at the store to collect the parts. Additionally, Buscor is experiencing an increase in warranty claims.

“Freeway automatically flags the storekeeper when a part is requested to replace an old part which is still under warranty. This saves us lots of money because we can easily identify parts which fail under warranty and are eligible for a claim,” notes Grobbelaar.

With the introduction of Freeway, Buscor’s admin department has become more efficient, enabling the company to redeploy employees to other positions within the organisational structure. Expenditure on stationery and photocopying has also decreased drastically with Buscor’s paperless operations.

It seems as though things are now going swimmingly at Buscor, but is there any other room for improvement? “I believe the ‘next big thing’ in managing vehicle fleets and  workshops will be the importing of onboard vehicle data directly to a maintenance system. This will vastly assist workshops in identifying vehicle problems, possibly even before the driver becomes aware of an issue,” predicts Grobbelaar.

Meanwhile, he and his team are enthusiastic about the support they have received from Freeway. “It has been very good. The transition from one maintenance system to another can be a very daunting task. The Freeway support team made it very easy by guiding us step-by-step through the setup of the program before we went over to the new system,” enthuses Grobbelaar.

“Freeway also has a service desk where tickets can be raised if there are queries or problems once the system is in use. This has been very helpful in resolving problems,” he continues. “The Freeway team is also always open to any suggestions that could lead to an improvement in the overall system.”

TYRE TECHNOLOGY ON A ROLL

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TYRE TECHNOLOGY ON A ROLL

In its piece The Invention of the Wheel, ThoughtCo* notes that the oldest known wheel – discovered in archaeological excavations in modern-day Iraq – comes from Mesopotamia and is believed to be over 5 500 years old. “It was not used for transportation, though, but rather as a potter’s wheel,” states the article. Regardless, the combination of the wheel and axle made early forms of transportation possible. These became more sophisticated over time with the development of other technologies.

The Bridgestone Group provides an insightful summary of the history of tyres and wheels, in a piece of the same name on its website. Here, it reiterates that the wheel was invented during the Bronze Age, around 3 500 BC. When the invention was transferred to transport, leather was added to soften the ride, and this was eventually replaced by rubber. “Original rubber tyres were made of solid rubber, without air, and could be used only by slow speed vehicles,” relates Bridgestone.

“It was only as recently as 1888 that Karl Benz invented the first gasoline car, fitted with unique metal tyres covered with rubber, and filled with air – the revolutionary pneumatic tyre. The popular use of pneumatic tyres began in 1895 after they featured in an automobile race from Paris to Bordeaux that year,” the tyre and rubber products company continues.

Threaded tyres joined the line of innovations in 1905: “Designed to protect the tyre carcass from direct contact with the road, (these) also improved the road surface friction coefficient.”

In late 1913, Henry Ford introduced the world’s first conveyor belt assembly line, marking the beginning of automobile popularisation, and a consequent rise in the need for tyres.

“Until the 1930s, tyre production relied upon expensive and limited quantities of natural rubber. In 1931, DuPont, a chemicals company, successfully industrialised the production of synthetic rubber. This development increased both the availability and production of tyre rubber,” Bridgestone points out.

Today, these rollers are more specialised than they’ve ever been, and the innovation isn’t losing momentum.

EV-SPECIFIC TYRES

Goodyear has recently introduced its first electric vehicle (EV)-ready tyre compatible with commercial EVs, offering ultra-low rolling resistance and energy efficiency.

“The new RangeMax RSD EV strives to live up to its name and deliver the superior range and confidence that comes with ultra-low rolling resistance,” says Tom Lippello, senior director of commercial marketing at Goodyear North America.

The new tyre is available in size 295/75R22.5 (albeit not in the South African market) and features the company’s Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake and Snow designations. The US tyre company also highlights that its new tyre model has a premium casing construction for toughness and durability. Its enhanced tread pattern has been designed for high torque applications, for which EVs are renowned.

“With the continued growth we’re observing in the regional EV segment, changing powertrains and fleets’ cost-savings and sustainability priorities, Goodyear recognised an opportunity to provide fleets and original equipment manufacturers with a tyre designed for the unique needs of these vehicles,” Lippello adds.

EV trucks aren’t the only workhorses that are getting their wheels revamped, though.

RETREADED TYRES FROM A NEW ACCOUNT

Continental has devised a new service for its tyre dealers: the ContiCasingAccount. This allows dealers to earn credit by “paying” used casings from their truck customers into an account. This credit can then be used flexibly, within a year, to acquire retreaded tyres for a dealer’s customers, as and when required. The dealer also benefits from an attractive exchange price for the retreaded tyre.

The new service has already been successfully tested in collaboration with 28 dealers in Germany. The next step is to roll out the programme to all tyre dealers interested in taking part.

“Continental’s casing bank works very intuitively and digitally,” tyre dealer Dirk Thomsen, managing director of Reifen Thomsen Tarp, reports. “It is practical, simple, and sustainable. So, it fits our corporate philosophy, strengthens customer relationships, and makes our work easier.”

Eric Hoffmann, managing director of Reifen Hofmann, agrees. His tyre dealerships, at six locations in the region around the German city of Kassel, offer customers an all-round tyre service – and Continental’s casing bank is part of it: “The ContiCasingAccount brings significant added value for all parties involved, in terms of costs, tyre service life, and emissions,” Hoffmann emphasises.

The initial verdict is that the ContiCasingAccount reduces fleet costs, optimises tyre life, and cuts emissions. In short, it offers clear benefits for everyone involved. “Using our retread solutions with well-maintained Continental casings allows us to lower tyre costs by 30 to 40%,” explains Annika Lorenz, head of fleet solutions at Continental Germany. “Retreading a tyre saves around 70% of the materials required for manufacturing a new tyre, greatly reducing the environmental impact. Besides these raw material savings, retreading also helps to bring down CO2 emissions, as well as water and energy consumption.”

GREATER DISTRIBUTION (CLOSER TO HOME)

Goodyear is also making these circular movers more accessible in South Africa. The company has partnered with Exclusive Wheel and Tyre Distributors to deliver a new go-to-market strategy for Goodyear’s truck tyre business.

“Goodyear is an active partner to South Africa’s automotive industry, and we continue to grow our capability and commitment to the country. The decision to partner with Exclusive Wheel and Tyre Distributors on this new go-to-market strategy for our truck business forms part of our drive to enhance service and efficiency to customers and underlines our commitment to the sustainable growth of the industry,” says Goodyear South Africa managing director, Richard Fourie. Customers are expected to reap even more benefits from this new collaboration, such as improved stock levels and wider availability of tyre sizes across the country.

“This partnership marks a truly significant milestone for us as an organisation, on our journey to establish ourselves as industry leaders. We look forward to embarking on this new leg of the journey with Goodyear as our partner, and accelerating our goal of adding further value to our industry,” says Exclusive Wheel and Tyre Distributors managing director, Rihaan Omar.

The wheel has certainly come a long way since it first started rolling in Mesopotamia; it will be interesting to see what the future holds for this dynamic disc.

* ThoughtCo is a premier reference site with more than 20 years’ experience in producing expert-created educational content.

Nigeria to pay $496 million to settle Indian firm’s claim over Ajaokuta steel

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Nigeria to pay $496 million to settle Indian firm’s claim over Ajaokuta steel

The Nigerian government says it has agreed to pay $496 million to settle a multibillion dollar claim by Global Steel Holdings Limited over the control of Ajaokuta Steel Company.

Attorney-General Abubakar Malami said the federal government will pay the company $496 million instead of $5.258 billion demanded by the firm, to settle the dispute. The deal was reached under the alternative dispute resolution framework of the International Chamber of Commerce, said a statement by Mr Malami’s spokesperson, Umar Gwandu.

The dispute followed the federal government’s revocation in 2008 of an agreement that handed control of the steel works and the National Iron Ore Mining Company to Global Steel Holdings Limited, an Indian firm. In cancelling the deal, the Umar Yarádua administration said the terms of the concession at the time were not favourable to the country.

The steel company, located in Kogi State, was conceived to serve as the pillar of Nigeria’s industrialisation. It was built by the Soviets between 1979 and the mid-1990s but has never produced steel as the project was never completed. It was also mismanaged.

The government said the seeds of the disputes can be traced to five contracts entered between 1999 and 2007 that gave complete control over the Nigerian steel space to one company group, Global Steel group.

The justice ministry said the decision to terminate the contracts by a new administration in 2008 was taken contrary to legal advice by the Federal Ministry of Justice, which cited the termination cost in the form of damages. It said had the government waited for 55 days, the pact would have terminated lawfully and the government would have collected more than $26 million from Global Steel.

“This was because the firm appeared unable to pay the first tranche for the Ajaokuta shares before the first anniversary of the agreement (25 May 2008),” the statement said.

“This failure would have given Nigeria a right to over $26m as liquidated damages under cl.12 of the Ajaokuta Share Purchase Agreement.

“Global steel, in consequence, took the federal government to the International Chamber of Commerce, International Court of Arbitration, Paris, commencing arbitration in 2008. Although the Federal Government negotiated a settlement in May 2013, the previous administration failed to implement its settlement agreement,” the statement said.

In May 2020, Global Steel threatened a resumption of the arbitration and announced an anticipated claim in damages of over $10-14 billion against Nigeria.

The government said it agreed to pay over $400 million to settle the case once and for all after engaging PwCNigeria to do a comprehensive review to ensure taxpayers are protected.

With this development, the statement said President Muhammadu Buhari has now “rescued the steel industry from interminable and complex disputes as well as saving the taxpayer from humongous damages.”

“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice grappled with the inherited problem by adopting a blueprint of seven principles for the cost-effective resolution of contractual disputes wherever they occur. They are the use of institutional mediation, choice of FGN counsel, the use of financial advisers with reputational capital, the importance of not discouraging foreign investment, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and the recognition that joined-up government produces superior outcomes,” Mr Gwandu said.

Transnet opens port capacity for emerging manganese mining companies

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Transnet opens port capacity for emerging manganese mining companies

Transnet plans to open up capacity allocation for emerging miners through the Ports of Gqeberha and Saldanha from April, 2023 when its current long-term contracts come to an end.

In a statement, Transnet said it had issued a formal communique to all 10 manganese exporters recording the expiry of current contracts, which are set to wrap up on March 31, 2023.

“New contracts will be entered into with new and existing miners, effective from April 1, 2023,” it said.

According to Transnet, new contracting and capacity allocation processes have commenced, with the intent to enable the emerging miner to ramp up.

“Transnet hopes to increase the current number of emerging miners that have access to rail and port capacity from the current four to 11, through introducing seven new entrants by the beginning of the next financial year,” it said.

Transnet said currently, the emerging miner allocation was 2 million tons per annum (mtpa).

“Transnet seeks to make an additional minimum of 2mtpa available for emerging miners, thereby creating 100% growth to a minimum of 4mtpa in this sector by April, 2023. This constitutes a 25% share of total available capacity,” the group said.

The company said part of its strategy to enable emerging miners was to look at ways of easing its business processes.

“Some of these include the following: easing the burden of funding bank guarantees as a requirement for doing business for emerging miners; an arrangement where underwriters cover the risk of a guarantee by up to 50%; and Transnet covers the remaining 50% is currently being finalised with underwriters,” it said.

Transnet said it further commits to continue supporting emerging miners with loading capacity in the manganese space.

“Transnet would also like to reaffirm its commitment to its long-term expansion project, which includes enabling capacity growth from the current 16mtpa to 22mtpa by 2027. This ramp-up will further enable emerging miner growth,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Transnet Port Terminals, an operating division of Transnet, declared a force majeure to all its customers following the strike action declared by two recognised unions within Transnet.

The United National Transport Union (Untu) and the South African Transport and Allied Workers (Satawu) embarked on a strike against the offered wage increases by Transnet for the new financial year, as well as the fact that no wage increases were approved for the current financial year.

Transnet said it anticipated that portions of its operations will be scaled down.

“However, and to the extent possible, we will invoke contingency plans and source external stand-in or temporary resources to ensure that the operations continue across the various terminals.

“Should the strike extend beyond the anticipated period of one week, Transnet will assess the impact of the strike on its operations and the force majeure event declaration. Further communication in this regard will be forthcoming from Transnet Port Terminals,” it said.

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