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NOTED: The Supply Chain In Brief-July 2021

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Green Seeds

  • Leonard’s Express adopted a new source of alternative energy for its national fleet of long-haul diesel trucks by using the SPI Energy Reaction System. The system alters the chemistry of combustion by reusing the exhaust gases that are being wasted.
  • To reduce pollution and noise disturbance, GEODIS invested in a green fleet for urban delivery in France, ordering 200 compressed natural gas vehicles fueled with biogas. GEODIS chose 107 IVECO Daily and 93 Eurocargo vehicles powered by BioGNV, a fuel that reduces carbon emissions by up to 95%. Performance is the same as a diesel-fueled vehicle.
  • Food logistics supplier Quality Custom Distribution will deploy 14 Volvo VNR Electric models in its Southern California last-mile delivery routes. By the end of 2022, the company will have 15 VNR Electric trucks in its fleet. Quality Custom Distribution currently operates a fleet of 700 Class 8 tractors, more than half of which are Volvo VNR and VNL models.
  • General Motors will increase spending on electric and autonomous vehicles to $35 billion through 2025 to expand its rollout of electric vehicles and accelerate production of its battery and fuel cell technologies. GM plans to sell more than 1 million electric vehicles annually by 2025.
  • Following the successful launch of its carbon reduction option service for less-than-containerload shipments, DHL Global Forwarding expanded the option to full containerload shipments. By 2030, DHL aims to invest $8.3 billion in climate-neutral logistics solutions and cover at least 30% of fuel requirements with sustainable fuels.


Sealed Deals

  • Circle K Hong Kong launched 100 Geek+ autonomous mobile robots in its distribution center, which handles deliveries for more than 300 Circle K convenience stores. With products ranging from small everyday items to food, Circle K uses the robots to streamline warehouse operations, ensuring effective daily handling of more than one million products.
  • GameByte, a community of 6.5 million gamers, partnered with order fulfillment provider 3PL to expand its e-commerce capabilities. 3PL will provide fulfillment, distribution, and a range of other services for all U.K. orders on GameByte’s website, which sells more than 1,000 products including merchandise, gaming accessories, hardware, consoles, and games.
  • Lands’ End selected Manhattan Associates’ supply chain technology solutions to deliver a seamless customer experience for its growing footprint. The casual apparel and home products retailer will implement Manhattan’s transportation management system and warehouse management system in its U.S. distribution centers to drive its uni-channel strategy.
  • Kencoa Aerospace, a global aerospace and defense manufacturer, partnered with blockchain solution SyncFab to deliver digital transformation for its clients. Kencoa will utilize the smart contracts technology to optimize end-to-end supply chain compliance and traceability supporting Tier 1 relationships.

M&A

  • Phoenix-based third-party logistics solutions provider GlobalTranz acquired TAKTIK Logistics Group, a California-based freight brokerage and logistics company.
  • Supply chain visibility technology provider project44 acquired San Francisco-based ClearMetal, an international ocean freight visibility platform.
  • Enstructure, a U.S. terminal and logistics provider, entered into an agreement to acquire Patriot Ports, a provider of breakbulk, specialty cargo, and cold storage services.
  • Supply chain solutions provider AIT Worldwide Logistics acquired Illinois-based Multimodal International, a licensed U.S. customs broker.
  • Tank truck transporter and logistics provider Kenan Advantage Group acquired Ag Trucking, a liquid bulk transporter of food products.
  • Refrigerated warehousing company Lineage Logistics acquired Dutch freight company UTI Forwarding, which specializes in transporting temperature-controlled and containerized food products to ports across Europe.
  • Panasonic agreed to acquire Blue Yonder, an end-to-end digital fulfillment platform provider.
  • Global freight forwarder Gebruder Weiss signed an agreement to acquire transportation services provider Rhenus Bulgaria.

Good Works

  • Sky One FZE, a full-service provider for aircraft leasing, charters, and support services, covered the full cost of routing a Boeing 747 freighter transporting 50 tons of COVID-19 relief aid to New Delhi. The delivery of oxygen concentrators, N95 and KN95 masks, and isolation gowns from California’s San Bernardino Airport was coordinated by the not-for-profit Another Joy Foundation.
  • Crowley Maritime’s Crowley Cares program donated $25,000 to provide groceries and other wellness initiatives to support military families facing food insecurity in Jacksonville, Florida. The money goes to the First Coast American Heart Association in an alliance with the United Services Organization of Jacksonville.
  • Allyn International, a supply chain consulting firm, donated $6,500 to Feeding America. The donation will provide 65,000 meals to families in need. The donation is part of the incentive Allyn International offers to all employees who receive their COVID-19 vaccinations.
  • Pelican Products, a manufacturer of protective cases, temperature-controlled packaging solutions, and portable lighting systems, partnered with nonprofit group human-I-T to turn its e-waste into reusable products for underserved communities by holding electronics recycling drives at its locations. Twenty two pallets of technology were donated, resulting in 11,000 pounds of e-waste diverted from landfills.
  • Freight forwarder Dimerco transported 75,000 N95 masks and respirators, 15,000 gowns and shields, and 50 boxes of tracheostomy tubes to help India manage its COVID-19 crisis. The company’s New York team partnered with the charity Breath for Humanity to source and donate nearly two tons of medical devices. The supplies were shipped from Philadelphia to Bangalore in collaboration with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, The Islamic Council of North America, and The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Recognition

  • Old Dominion Freight Line’s executive chairman David Congdon received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, the highest award granted by the office of the governor, for his exemplary service to the state and his community.
  • Sam’s Club named third-party logistics provider Kane Logistics its 3PL Partner of the Year for 2020. The award recognizes operational excellence and dedication to customer service. Kane operates three of the retailer’s 17 U.S. distribution centers.
  • Dayton Freight Lines received the Transportation Excellence Award from Scotts Miracle-Gro for its superior performance in the regional less-than-truckload category. Mike Cronin, executive vice president (left), and Tom Cronin, president (right), accepted the award.
  • Sylvan (Sonny) Holtzman was named a Hall of Fame Inductee by the Center for Urban Transportation Research. Known for his dedication to the transportation industry, Holtzman served in numerous volunteer roles and is the founding chairman of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.
  • Southeastern Freight Lines was named Transplace 2020 Regional Carrier of the Year based on its overall spend and market share, automation metrics, and feedback in a survey measuring carrier performance.

Shovel Ready

  • Northwest Grains International broke ground on a transloading facility in South Carolina to serve agricultural producers. The site will handle containerized soybeans, lumber, logs, peanuts, cotton, cotton seed, and yellow peas through the Port of Charleston via rail-served Inland Port Dillon, and then deliver the products to the Port of Charleston for exporting to overseas markets.
  • Tractor Supply Company began construction on its new distribution center in Navarre, Ohio. The 895,000-square-foot facility will service more than 250 Tractor Supply stores at full capacity and is designed to meet high energy efficiency and environmental standards.
  • Online home furnishings retailer Wayfair is opening a 1.2 million-square-foot distribution center at MRP Industrial’s Eastgate Logistics Park in Maryland. Its location near Interstate 95 will allow Wayfair to reach one-third of the U.S. population in an overnight drive.
  • Kroger opened the first of 20 planned automated warehouses for fulfilling online grocery orders. The 375,000-square-foot Ohio facility uses advanced robotics and automation to enable efficient picking and delivery. More than 1,000 bots move across 3D grids to retrieve products and bring them to pick stations, where they are sorted for delivery.

Up the Chain

  • Hillebrand, a logistics services provider for the alcoholic beverage industry, hired Jerry Knight as its director of warehousing in North America. Knight will oversee U.S. trucking operations as well as all warehouses in the United States and Canada. Knight previously directed warehousing and supply chain networks for Gallo, Foley Family Wines/Epic Ventures, and PepsiCo.
  • Wen-Parker Logistics, a global freight forwarder, hired Shana Riggs as its new vice president of operations. Riggs previously held key operational roles with BAX Global and Ann Inc., and was vice president of operations at Chico’s.
  • Bridge Industrial hired David Aschenbrand as its new vice president of cold storage. Aschenbrand will oversee day-to-day operations and management, serving as a liaison between cold storage users and Bridge’s market officers. He previously served as director at Lineage Logistics.