Pat O’Connor announces retirement from Columbia Machine Palletizer Division
Columbia Machine, Inc has announced the retirement of Pat O’Connor after more than 12 years of distinguished service. Pat joined Columbia in August 2011 as the Business Development Manager for the Palletizer Division before being promoted to the role of President in 2014. Pat has spent his entire career in the conveyor, palletizing and material handling industry. Under Pat’s leadership, Columbia’s Palletizer Division has shown sustained growth, developing the broadest and most advanced palletizer product line in the industry. With more than 40 years of experience in engineering, sales, and product development, Pat’s expertise has been vital in solidifying our position as the market leader in North America. “We are grateful for Pat’s exceptional contributions,” said Rick Goode, Chairman and CEO of Columbia Machine, Inc. “His profound knowledge and extensive experience have played a pivotal role in the transformation and advancement of Columbia’s entire palletizer product line. Pat’s visionary leadership has culminated in the formation of an exceptional team, and his unwavering dedication to our customers, our company, and the industry at large will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.” “As we approach this transition, we are pleased to announce that Mark MacDonald will take over the role of President of our Palletizer Division.” said Goode. Mark began his career at Columbia in January 2015 as the Applications Engineering Manager and has built a team highly qualified Engineers. Mark has a Mechanical Engineering Degree from the University of Missouri School of Science and Technology and an MBA from St. Louis University. Prior to joining Columbia, Mark has previously held positions as an Applications Engineer (in the Palletizer industry), Sourcing Commodities Manager at GKN Aerospace and Purchasing Manager at Duke Manufacturing. A planned leadership transition has already begun with Pat and will continue over the next few months. “Please join me in thanking Pat for his years of committed service and wishing him all the best in his retirement. Let us also extend a welcome to Mark as he steps into his new role.” added Goode.
NFI’s Brian Webb promoted to President of Port Services Division
NFI hasrecently announced the promotion of Brian Webb to President of its Port Services solution. With nearly 30 years in the supply chain industry, Brian brings a wealth of experience to support this growing division. “Since the acquisition of Cal Cartage in 2017, NFI has grown tremendously in its Port Services offering,” said NFI CEO Sid Brown. “Brian’s experience leading NFI’s largest region within Distribution and his commitment to operational excellence will be instrumental to the Port Services team as they continue their expansion and growth.” During his career at NFI, Brian brought to his role a history of launching multiple high-volume, dynamic warehouse and distribution facilities across the country. His thorough understanding of the supply chain needs of Fortune 100 companies will bring added value and a fresh perspective to the team. His international experience, navigation of complex supply chains, and distinct track record of creating high-performing teams will pave the way for leading the Port Services team to continued innovation and expansion. Brian was a Sergeant in the US Air Force and transitioned into a role in warehouse operations with DHL. Since joining NFI in 2016, Brian has grown his career to his most recent role of Senior Vice President of the West region, where he was responsible for 26+ million square feet of warehouse space. He also contributes as a Supply Chain Course Instructor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California. From its acquisition of California Cartage to the recent opening of its one-of-a-kind transload facility in the Port of Savannah, NFI’s Port Services division has emerged as a leader in drayage and transloading services across North America. Having proximity to ports and a presence in most major logistics hubs continentally allows the company to connect its customers’ international shipments to their domestic supply chain. NFI’s port service experts have the knowledge to help customers quickly move their products and simplify the shipping process from origin to destination.
Raymond continues pledge to give back to local communities through North America in 2023
From monumental charitable donations to building bicycles for children in need for a brighter holiday season, Raymond’s network continues to support communities The season of giving is yearlong at The Raymond Corporation. In 2023, Raymond has supported more than 100 nonprofit and educational organizations in communities throughout New York state, home to its headquarters. The giving extends across North America as the organization and its network of Solutions and Support Centers help numerous charitable efforts and communities. With an altruistic culture spanning over 100 years, Raymond continues to prioritize fundamental company values focused on respect for people and innovation, driving the company and its associates forward to make a positive impact on their local communities. “Raymond and our entire enterprise of Solutions and Support Centers have always been committed to a pledge of giving back and making a difference in the communities in which we operate and serve,” said Steve VanNostrand, executive vice president at The Raymond Corporation. “Generosity has long been exemplified throughout our operations, and it runs deep in the hearts of our team members. We appreciate our associates, who are absolutely key in helping bring these efforts to fruition.” Raymond and its Solutions and Support Centers contribute to nonprofit and educational organizations with monetary contributions, forklift donations and voluntary participation spanning from building bicycles to building out warehouse centers for food pantries. Here are some model examples of how Raymond’s Solutions and Support Centers have given back to communities across North America in 2023: Abel Womack, Inc. — Lawrence, Massachusetts Supporting Filling in the Blanks, Abel Womack donated racking and laid out plans to expand the warehouse storage space by going vertical, allowing the group to accommodate more food for weekend meal bags. Andersen Material Handling — Wixom, Michigan Andersen Material Handling was a Platinum Sponsor for the American Childhood Cancer Organization’s golf outing. Brauer Material Handling Systems, Inc. — Hendersonville, Tennessee Through its employee donation program, Brauer Material Handling Systems offers each team member $200 to donate to a charity or nonprofit of choice. These donations were awarded to organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the local humane society and Boy Scouts of America. Carolina Handling — Charlotte, North Carolina Carolina Handling supports Ronald McDonald House Charities in six Southeastern cities by adopting a room at Ronald McDonald Houses in Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; Greenville, South Carolina; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Durham, North Carolina; and Charlotte, North Carolina. Funds donated to the Adopt-a-Room program help maintain guest rooms with all the comforts of home. Heubel Shaw — Kansas City, Missouri Through various events and internal fundraising, Heubel Shaw donated over $35,000 to the American Cancer Society in 2023. Over the past decade, Heubel Shaw has raised and donated over $350,000 to the organization. Hooper Handling — Hamburg, New York Contributing to a number of healthcare organizations focused on outreach care, research and more, Hooper Handling donated toward the Alzheimer Association of Western New York, Roswell Park Alliance Foundation to support breast cancer research, and Mental Health Advocates of WNY to support mental health in elementary schools. Johnston Equipment — Mississauga, Ontario Johnston Equipment has continued its long-standing support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, including sponsorship of the annual general meeting, charity golf tournament, educational scholarships and annual gala dinner. Malin — Addison, Texas Going on 10 years, Malin has supported Minnie’s Food Pantry in Plano, Texas, this year donating 12,000 cans of corn for the Thanksgiving meal giveaway. Malin also maintained all 11 pieces of the food pantry’s equipment and provided the Safety On The Move® Operator Training Program to its volunteers. Raymond de Mexico — Querétaro, Mexico Raymond de Mexico actively participates with donations to Casa María Goretti, a home for girls, adolescents and young people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in vulnerable situations, where they receive the necessities, medical care, psychological attention and more. Employees visited the home, gifted jackets and organized an uplifting event that included great food, music, singing and camaraderie. Raymond Storage Concepts, Inc. — Cincinnati, Ohio Raymond Storage Concepts enjoyed a memorable volunteer day at New Life Furniture Bank, sorting and packing houseware items into boxes to disperse to community members in need. New Life Furniture Bank provides gently used furniture and household items throughout greater Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and northern Kentucky. Raymond West — Santa Fe Springs, California As part of Operation Santa Supply Chain, some 200 bikes were built by Raymond West employees as part of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots® Program. Raymond West “elves” have been busy building bikes to support the 2023 holiday season. Welch Equipment Company — Denver, Colorado The Welch equipment team donated an all-terrain vehicle (valued at $38,000) to the Pueblo YMCA. This ATV will be useful in transporting supplies, as well as children with physical disabilities, to mountainous Camp Jackson — a beloved staple in the community since 1916. As total intralogistics solutions providers, Raymond Solutions and Support Centers offer a broad range of consulting, connected solutions, technologies, services, material handling equipment and more to support the ever-growing needs of their customers. To see more examples of how Raymond Solutions and Support Centers are giving back in 2023, visit Raymond’s Facebook or LinkedIn pages at www.facebook.com/TheRaymondCorporation or https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-raymond-corporation/.
Orbis Corporation and Prairie Farms receive 2023 QCS Collaboration Award
Award honors initiatives that deliver excellence through the joint efforts of a member and a supply partner working together to either solve a problem or achieve the desired outcome ORBIS® Corporation, an international provider in reusable packaging, and Prairie Farms, a well-known farmer-owned dairy cooperative, were awarded the 2023 QCS Purchasing Cooperative Collaboration Award for their continued collaborative efforts in developing a reusable cheese container and delivery system that prioritizes sustainable practices and product integrity. The QCS Best Collaboration Award is a prestigious honor that celebrates joint initiatives between a member and a supply partner that have excelled in addressing industry challenges or achieving desired outcomes. The award was presented at the 2023 QCS Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, in October. Since 1938, Prairie Farms has been committed to producing fresh dairy products of the highest quality and exceeding the expectations of customers, consumers and partners. Recognizing an opportunity to enhance product integrity, reduce waste and prevent contamination in the supply chain, Prairie Farms initiated a collaborative project with long-time collaborator, ORBIS Corporation. The objective was to create a reusable packaging solution for the dairy industry, specifically tailored to maintain product quality and safety. “We do feel we have a true partnership with ORBIS,” said Chris Hackman, chief operating officer at Prairie Farms. ORBIS Corporation, with its extensive experience serving the dairy industry, has a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and reducing its customers’ environmental impact. “This innovative system not only replaces single-use material, but also offers enhancements in efficiency, output capacity and the overall utilization of the production facility,” said Matthew Beeman, VP Sales RSC at ORBIS Corporation. “We are honored this initiative was recognized by QCS. At ORBIS, we remain committed to not only addressing customer challenges but also setting a new standard across industry sectors.” Through this collaboration, Prairie Farms and ORBIS Corporation have demonstrated the power of partnership in delivering solutions that benefit the entire supply chain. In 2019, ORBIS and Prairie Farms were also nominated and won the QCS Best Collaboration Award for work they did with a leading national grocery retailer to optimize delivery of fluid milk in-store. The solution was the ORBIS XpressBulk™ Milk Dolly & Tray System, a retail-ready fully reusable delivery system.
Ferri Equipment joins LiuGong North America Dealer lineup
Ferri Equipment is the latest East Coast construction equipment dealer to join the growing LiuGong North America dealership network. Ferri Equipment owners, Boone Ferri and Carley Bockmeyer, have been looking to add a heavy equipment line for several years to keep up with the growing construction projects along the New England coastline. Mr. Ferri confirmed LiuGong was the right manufacturer for them after meeting the corporate team and seeing the machines in person at this year’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas. “This is going to be our only heavy line, and we’re going to put our entire focus behind it to help grow our business and theirs. Customer Service is our primary focus, and we are excited to have the opportunity to partner with an OEM who has the same primary focus.” Established in 2014, the family-owned company provides equipment sales and rentals for construction, landscaping, forestry and material handling applications. Ferri Equipment is headquartered in Wareham, Massachusetts with rental operations across New England. LiuGong North America President Andrew Ryan said they are thrilled to bring on a competitive dealership in a thriving market of the United States, especially one with an excellent reputation for service, like Ferri Equipment. “We feel incredibly positive about this dealer-manufacturer relationship because we’re invested in the same goals,” Ryan said. “We’re constantly looking for dealers, like Ferri Equipment, that focus on building customer relationships, growing their businesses and representing the LiuGong brand with excellent machines and service.” Ferri brings a career’s worth of experience to the dealership network as a former heavy equipment mechanic. He said part of what drew him to LiuGong is the emphasis they place on the quality and service of their machines. “I get the feeling that they’re a very proud company, and they’re proud of their product,” Ferri said. “Their goal is building long-lasting relationships with quality dealers who are going to support their customers.”
Industrial Labelling Systems continues team growth and celebrates 10-Year partnership with Evolabel
Industrial Labelling Systems (ILS) has marked its tenth year as the longstanding distributor of Evolabel™ products in the UK and Ireland, as the business continues to grow with the addition of two new support team members. Evolabel is a pioneer in print and apply systems, enabling fast and precise automatic labelling in production and warehousing. The company’s extensive range of machines have been distributed worldwide successfully by ILS over the last ten years. Since the partnership began in 2013, ILS has played a pivotal role in supplying Evolabel’s state-of-the-art technologies in North America, Europe and Australia. Food and drink, pharmaceutical and healthcare, automotive, e-commerce and logistics sectors, have all benefitted from the partnership, with countless businesses streamlining their labelling processes, increasing efficiency, and maintaining the highest standards of product labelling. Key to the partnership’s recent success has been the FlexWipe Pallet labeller, the first machine of its kind capable of operating at -28oC without the need for insulation or a heating cabinet. Recognising the importance of a pallet labelling system that performs seamlessly even in extreme conditions, ILS and Evolabel collaborated closely to verify the suitability of the Flexwipe for such demands. With the support of ILS, Evolabel conducted tests on the Flexwipe Pallet labeller within frozen containers, simulating a real cold chain environment. Throughout this two-month testing period, the team monitored the system’s functionality, ensuring the solution would work for customers operating in subzero temperatures. As a result of this trial, ILS and Evolabel’s collaboration brought a pallet labelling solution which is setting new standards in the cold chain industry. With its ability to apply labels non-stop in often harsh operational environments, the FlexWipe Pallet labeller is helping remove employees from these conditions, increasing site safety and production efficiently. To date ILS has successfully deployed more than 80 FlexWipe systems in locations such as North America, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Holland and Australia. “Our partnership with ILS has been integral to building sales of Evolabel machines over the past 10 years,” said Martin Selin Dijkstra, Marketing Manager at Evolabel. “The team at ILS are partners in the truest sense, not only selling our machines but also working with us to ensure we develop what our customers want. We are delighted with the success of the first 10 years working together and look forward to the next 10 and beyond.” As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of automatic print and apply labellers, ILS operates from an 11,000sq ft facility in Middleton, near Manchester. Having celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2022, the company has seen significant growth and appointed two Technical Support Engineers to strengthen its operations. Chris Cheshire joins ILS having previously worked for materials handling software provider, Dematic. In addition, his experience in the use of conveyor systems will prove invaluable for incorporating labelling successfully across clients’ production lines. Kenny Docherty brings his expertise in maintenance engineering to the business, having worked for a global food and beverage manufacturer using Evolabel’s machines for over 10 years. Denis Brett, Managing Director at ILS, concluded; “We are immensely proud of our successful partnership with Evolabel, delivering their market leading print and apply systems across the UK, Ireland and beyond. “By continuing to invest in our team we will make sure that we deliver the service our partners know ILS for, and we look forward to expanding our reach and ensuring that businesses receive the best labelling technology and support.”
Eagle Mark 4 opens third facility, expanding its national operations
Eagle Mark 4, a Kalmar Ottawa Premier Partner, has announced the opening of a new facility on the West Coast of the United States. The strategic expansion is a testament to their commitment to meeting the evolving needs of their valued customers. The new facility, regionally located in Albuquerque, New Mexico will play a pivotal role in enhancing the company’s ability to serve customers on the West Coast and beyond. It will feature dedicated customer support teams, and a streamlined logistics system to ensure faster delivery times, improved product availability, and exceptional service quality. “Expanding to the West Coast is a significant milestone for Eagle Mark 4,” said Mike Tozzi, Eagle Mark 4 President. “We recognize the growing demand for our products and services in this region, and this new facility will allow us to better support our existing customers while reaching new ones. Our mission has always been to provide top-notch solutions and unparalleled customer support, and this expansion reinforces that commitment.” The new facility at 2108 Candelaria Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107, will extend business hours from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. EST, servicing multiple time zones with live in-house parts specialists. Customers can order at the Yard Truck Parts Store 24/7, with 95% of products shipped the same day. With Albuquerque being its first location in the West and the third location for the business, following its headquarters in Mansfield, Ohio, and second location in Fayetteville, North Carolina, this is a key milestone for Eagle Mark 4 as a leader of sales, service, rental, and parts in the yard truck industry.
NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Product Manager for MAXXDRIVE Industrial Drives receives AGMA Award
This Fall, the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) presented various awards during the 2023 Fall Technical Meeting (FTM) Awards Luncheon in Detroit, Michigan. Along with the Chairperson’s Award, awards were presented to AGMA technical committee members who have published a document within the last year. Hani Almoghrabi, Product Manager for MAXXDRIVE Industrial Gear Units at NORD DRIVESYSTEMS, was recognized for his contribution toward publishing AGMA 947-A23, Gear Reducers –Thermal Capacity. Ten other members of the AGMA Drives for Industrial Applications Committee also accepted awards for their work on the piece. “It was a pleasure working alongside my colleagues on the AGMA Enclosed Gear Committee to publish the AGMA 947-A23 Gear Reducers-Thermal Capacity information sheet,” Almoghrabi stated “we hope it will become an informative resource for the gear industry.” The published document utilizes an analytical heat balance model as a means of calculating the thermal transmittable power of a gear unit lubricated with mineral oil. The calculation is based on the standard conditions of 25°C (77°F) maximum ambient temperature and 95°C (203°F) maximum oil sump temperature in a large indoor space but also includes modifiers for calculation in other conditions. The first draft of AGMA 947-A23 was created in April 2019 and approved by the Technical Division Executive Committee in June 2023.
Kassow Robots establishes U.S. Sales and Support team
Kassow Robots, a developer of 7-axis industrial cobot solutions for machine tending, material handling, dispensing, and various other applications, has established a U.S.-based team focused on sales and support. Regional Channel Partner Managers Jim Adamski and Collin Ayres and Technical Support Engineer Chris Hapsias will support Kassow Robots’ sales partners, system integrators, and distributors in the U.S. Kassow Robots is part of Bosch Rexroth, which has been its majority owner since 2022. “This team will allow us to work closely with our system integrators and distributors in the United States. They will also extend our reach to new sales partners and markets,” said Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager at Kassow Robots. Jim Adamski is focused on working with the U.S. partner network east of the Mississippi River and in Iowa. He joined the Kassow Robots team earlier this year and has previous experience with Bosch Rexroth. He’s worked in the factory automation industry for more than 30 years. Adamski looks forward to helping U.S. companies automate their operations efficiently and manage labor challenges. “Kassow Robots has a great lineup of 7-axis robots that are easy to set up and program,” Adamski said. “There is vast array of potential applications, such as machine tending, welding, dispensing, and palletizing, that these cobots are equipped to handle because of their flexibility.” Collin Ayres recently joined the Kassow Robots team after receiving his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. As Regional Channel Partner Manager, he focuses on helping Kassow Robots expand its presence in North America and supporting sales partners in the western part of the U.S. “It’s an exciting time to be working in automation, and I’ve enjoyed seeing users’ response to interacting with the Kassow Robots cobots at events over the past several months,” Ayres said. “The 7-axis lightweight robots were made for industrial use and enable automation for operations even in the most confined spaces.” The latest addition to the U.S. team is technical support engineer Chris Hapsias. He is responsible for providing technical support and training for Kassow Robots’ U.S. distributor network. He brings four years of factory automation experience, specifically in the autonomous mobile robot (AMR) space. “The added range of motion the seventh axis provides for the KR Series robots is impressive,” Hapsias said. “They are user-friendly, with an intuitive tablet-based user interface that allows beginners to program these cobots with little training and robotics pros to dive deeper to program complex operations.” Kassow Robots’ 7-axis lightweight cobots offer small footprints and increased maneuverability. The unique seventh axis, or “wrist joint,” enables continuous dispensing, welding, and material removal applications, regardless of access angle, without the need to reorient the arm. The cobots are easy to program and operate after a short introduction, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) without robotics specialists to implement automation cost-effectively and independently.
Hy-Brid Lifts announces Director of Sales for Southeast United States
Hy-Brid Lifts announces David Price as director of sales covering the southeast United States. Price’s responsibilities include providing customer support as well as continuing the growth and channel development of the Hy-Brid Lifts line of low-level scissor lifts. “I am excited to join this team and look forward to the opportunity to work with our customers. Coming from the rental industry, I understand the importance of quality equipment and customer service backed by a solid service department,” said Price. “After touring the production facility and meeting the Hy-Brid Lifts family, it’s no surprise that this company is continuing to grow, and I look forward to being a part of that growth.” Price brings 12 years of industry experience to his new role, largely derived from his time in the rental equipment industry with United Rentals, Blueline Rentals and Equipmentshare. He spent a majority of his time in sales management with a strong emphasis on customer service and going above and beyond for every customer. “The entire Hy-Brid Lifts team is excited to have David on board to serve the southeast United States. David has a wealth of sales and rental industry knowledge that will strengthen our ability to serve our customers,” said Dave Wanta, Custom Equipment LLC vice president of sales. “David is a valuable addition to the team, and we look forward to the contributions that he will provide for our company’s continued growth.”
Juno Jones wins prestigious national award from NSC
The National Safety Council, the nation’s leading nonprofit safety organization, has honored Juno Jones boots with a prestigious Best in Show Award at the 2023 Safety Congress and Expo held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The National Safety Council held its annual conference, which is the world’s largest annual gathering of safety professionals, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from October 22-24, 2023. Prior to the Wednesday morning keynote, the winners were announced before an audience of thousands. Of over 70 new safety products, the Juno Jones Women’s Steel Toe Meti II Boot was declared a winner and called onto the stage. Juno Jones Founder and CEO Emily Soloby was on hand to accept the award from NSC CEO Lorraine M. Martin. Juno Jones specializes in ASTM safety footwear made especially for a woman’s foot shape, creating a safer, more comfortable, and more stylish boot. “This is a win for women’s safety in the workplace, and a win for inclusion in the workplace. It shows that the tides are turning. Pink it and shrink it is out, and inclusion is in,” said Juno Jones Founder Emily Soloby. You can find Juno Jones at retailers like Duluth Trading Company, as well as on their website at www.junojones.com. Juno Jones partners with leading distributors to help bring women’s PPE to female employees at corporations and organizations around the country. To learn how to bring Juno Jones boots to your company, email info@junojonesshoes.com.
Women In Trucking Association names Shelley Simpson as 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) presented Shelley Simpson, President, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. with its 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking award. The award is sponsored by Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), a manufacturer of Class 6-8 commercial vehicles in North America, and recognizes the achievements of female role models and trailblazers in the trucking industry. The winner was announced during the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas. The announcement followed the panel discussion Unstoppable Women in Trucking You Must Know About, facilitated by Tracy Mack-Askew, Chief Engineer of Chassis, Propulsion, and Vocational Engineering, DTNA. Finalists for the 2023 award included Tori Blake, Chief Financial Officer and Co-owner, Western Logistics Express and WLX, and Megan Ferguson, Vice President of End-to-End Delivery Acceleration, Walmart. “It’s a privilege for Women In Trucking to recognize Shelley Simpson as our 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking award winner,” said Jennifer Hedrick, WIT President and CEO. “Shelley’s passion and leadership for this field, including her commitment to expanding gender diversity in transportation, have been evident throughout her nearly 30-year career.” “On behalf of Daimler Truck North America, our congratulations to all of the remarkable finalists for the 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking award who have and continue to work tirelessly to create expanded opportunities for women in our industry,” said Angela Lentz, Chief People Officer, DTNA. “In addition, I want to congratulate Shelly Simpson for being named the 2023 Influential Woman in Trucking. Her amazing and vast career, commitment to others and impact on trucking are all impressive accomplishments worthy of this unique recognition.” Simpson’s career at J.B. Hunt reflects the company’s continued progression as an innovative leader in the transportation and logistics industry. Since joining J.B. Hunt as an hourly customer service representative, she has held multiple positions for business segments across the company, including most recently serving as Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President of People and Human Resources. In 2007, Simpson was named President of Integrated Capacity Solutions (ICS), a business unit she helped create. While continuing to develop ICS, Simpson assumed sales and marketing executive responsibilities in 2011 and was appointed Chief Marketing Officer. She took on additional leadership in 2014 as President of J.B. Hunt’s Truckload business segment, helping improve the efficiency of the company’s fleet. Simpson was named Chief Commercial Officer in 2017, leading strategic direction of marketing, sales, customer experience, and external product development, including J.B. Hunt 360°, the company’s technology platform for freight matching and operational efficiency. As the company evolved J.B. Hunt 360 and its technology-driven services, Simpson was also responsible for commercializing them on a global scale as the leader of International Services. In 2020, she was named Executive Vice President of People and Human Resources, leading the company’s efforts to create a more inclusive culture and work environment. Simpson was named President in 2022, and currently provides management and performance oversight for all company business units, in addition to emerging technology, developing services and People and Human Resources. Simpson serves on the board for multiple organizations, including the Mercy Health Foundation and the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board for the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, in addition to serving on the DSA Selection Committee for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. In 2016, she received the Distinguished Woman in Logistics award by Women In Trucking and was named 2017 ATHENA Woman of the Year at the NWA Business Women’s Conference. In 2020, she received the Power50 Award by the National Diversity Council and was named a 2020 Top Influencer by Arkansas Money & Politics. In 2021, she was named one of the Top 100 Women in Supply Chain by Supply Chain Digital and has been named one of the top 100 HR Professionals by the National Diversity Council in 2022. She recently received the 2022 Woman of the Year in Innovation award by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas and the Excellence in Free Enterprise Award from Economics Arkansas. Originally from Russellville, Arkansas, Simpson graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She lives in Rogers, AR with her husband David and three children.
Hyster recognized by Fast Company for world’s first hydrogen-powered top-pick container handler
The solution, which is being piloted at the Port of Los Angeles, was named a finalist in the Innovation by Design Awards Hyster Company announces that the business publication Fast Company recognized the hydrogen-powered top pick as a finalist in its Innovation by Design Awards. The port equipment was named among the best sustainable projects of 2023 for its use of design to meaningfully reduce harm to the environment. The top-pick container handler, which is expected to provide emissions savings of 127 tons of carbon dioxide and almost half a ton of criteria pollution per year, is the first of its kind and is currently being piloted at the Fenix Marine Services terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. The truck is powered by two Nuvera® 45kw hydrogen fuel cells working in tandem with an on-board lithium-ion battery, with the fuel cells able to power the equipment directly or charge the battery. This allows operators to refuel the truck in about 15 minutes and then operate for 8 to 10 consecutive hours all while producing no harmful emissions – only heat and water. “With supply chains often accounting for more than 90% of an organization’s emissions, the pressure is on for ports to find sustainable solutions for their heavy-duty applications while still producing at the level they require,” said Jan Willem van den Brand, Director, Global Market Development, Big Trucks, Hyster. “This recognition joins a growing list of accolades that distinguish Hyster for this solution in particular, but also for our broader commitment to developing zero-emission solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible in electrifying intensive industries.” The top-pick container handler is one of several clean power-focused port equipment projects that Hyster is currently working on. Recently, the company shipped a hydrogen fuel cell-powered ReachStacker to Spain’s Port of Valencia, where it will undergo a pilot program of its own at one of Europe’s largest container terminals. Hyster will also supply an empty container handler and a terminal tractor, both powered by hydrogen fuel cells, to a port terminal in Germany, and is working with Capacity Trucks to develop electric and hydrogen-powered terminal tractors.
H&E opens new branch in Texarkana, Texas
Effective November 6, 2023, H&E Equipment Services Inc. (H&E) announces the opening of its Texarkana branch. The location on the Texas-Arkansas line makes it the company’s 24th rental location in the state of Texas, but it is the third branch to serve the Arkansas market, primarily in the southwestern area of the state. So far this year, H&E has opened 13 new branches across the country. The facility is located at 4300 Gazola Street, Texarkana, TX 75501-7136, phone 430-455-4000. It includes a fully fenced yard area, offices, and a repair shop and carries a variety of construction and general industrial equipment. “H&E has extended its coverage across the Texas-Arkansas state line to easily reach any project between our existing Longview, Shreveport, El Dorado, and Little Rock branches. We’ve added greater fleet availability to the area, and the location of our new facility allows quick access to I-30, I-49, and state highways that branch off in all directions, so delivery of rental equipment to job sites is timely and efficient,” says Branch Manager Hunter Hatfield. “I’ve worked from our Dallas branch for many years, so I’ve hit the ground running and can help customers secure the right equipment for their projects from this new location.” The Texarkana branch specializes in the rental of aerial lifts, earthmoving equipment, telescopic forklifts, compaction equipment, generators, light towers, compressors, and more and represents the following manufacturers: Allmand, Atlas Copco, Bomag, Case, Club Car, Cushman, Doosan, Gehl, Generac Mobile, Genie, Hamm, Hilti, Husqvarna, JCB, JLG, John Deere, Kobelco, Kubota, LayMor, Ledwell, Lincoln Electric, Link-Belt Excavators, MEC, Miller, Multiquip, Polaris, Sany, Skyjack, SkyTrak, Sullair, Sullivan-Palatek, Tag, Towmaster, Unicarriers, Wacker Neuson, Yanmar, and others.
AIT Worldwide Logistics welcomes Susan Caldwell as vice president of talent management
New role will enhance freight forwarder’s human resources programs across North America region AIT Worldwide Logistics has announced that Susan Caldwell who has joined the organization as vice president of talent management for the company’s North America region. In this role, Caldwell will shape talent strategy by designing and executing programs in areas including organizational development, talent development, teammate engagement, performance management, succession planning, change management and communications. She reports to Chief Human Resources Officer, Angela Mancuso. “Susan is an instrumental hire for us at a pivotal time of global growth for AIT,” Mancuso said. “Her bilingual proficiency, combined with her depth of experience across various sectors, positions us to further enhance our HR initiatives, talent management practices, and overall employee experience in the North America region.” As a trusted advisor to senior leaders for Fortune 500 companies across multiple industries, including manufacturing, retail, online marketplaces, and engineering, Caldwell has developed robust talent management practices and leadership coaching for enhanced team performance. “I am thrilled to join a fast-growing, values-focused organization like AIT,” Caldwell said. “I look forward to contributing a fresh perspective on talent management and fostering an environment where our thriving workforce enables our customers around the world to reach new heights.” Caldwell earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Richmond, and her MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University, both located in Richmond, Virginia. Based out of AIT’s global headquarters in Itasca, Illinois, Caldwell spends her free time attending live music events and exploring hiking trails with her husband and two dogs.
Gebrüder Weiss welcomes Lars Nielson as Canada Country Manager
Gebrüder Weiss, an international transport and logistics company with a 500-year history, announced that Lars Nielsen has been named Canada Country Manager. The move is part of the company’s continued focus on enhancing customer experience and expanding trade routes for customers across all regions of North America. The expansion includes grand openings of branch offices and warehouse spaces in Laredo, Texas, and Miami, Florida, this year. Nielsen brings more than 30 years of experience in logistics, procurement, and supply chain operations in Canada to his new position. “Lars has a blend of pioneering vision and operational expertise that make him ideally suited for this role. He’s opened new markets across Canada and led teams to rapid growth while also managing the details of ROI, key performance indicators, and staff development,” said Mark McCullough. “We’re delighted to welcome Lars to the Gebrüder Weiss leadership team.” The Canada, United States, and Mexico region operates as the largest free trade zone in the world, and Canada’s role in North American and global trade continues to grow. Canada was the top purchaser of U.S. goods exports in 2022, responsible for $356.5 billion in total purchases, and was the third largest supplier of goods exports to the U.S.. Domestically, Canada is investing in in-demand trade sectors, such as critical minerals necessary for batteries and semiconductors, to make essential supply chain routes more accessible, efficient, and secure. “Gebrüder Weiss has set the standard for global logistics and led the industry in adapting to trade route shifts like nearshoring,” says Nielsen.” Canada is increasing its prominence in trade and supply chain operations, and I’m thrilled to be joining the company at this pivotal time.” Nielsen is based at the Toronto office in Ontario, Canada, and is responsible for the Gebrüder Weiss branches in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
RIANTA RS60 packaging system receives the iba award
The RIANTA RS60 packaging system received the iba award for bakery technology at the International Bakery Exhibition. At the International Bakery Exhibition iba, awards were presented for the most innovative products and developments. Among the winners was the RIANTA RS60 packaging system. The machine presents a pioneering, fully automatic and modular solution that has been specially developed for cutting, stacking and packaging bakery products. The RS60 packaging system from Rianta has been honored with the International Innovation Award for its pioneering design and functionality. “The innovation of the RS60 is the newly created design, while retaining the proven processes and functional aspects and taking into account the hygienic design specifications of the EHEDG and the food industry,” said the jury in its assessment. “The modular design enables very good visual inspection and the fastest possible maintenance as well as easy replacement of individual modules.” The machine is easily accessible from anywhere and the use of the latest control and servo technology enables quick format changes via the HMI. Davor Kovacevic, Managing Director of Rianta: “Receiving the iba Award confirms the feedback and demand from our customers for state-of-the-art solutions in the bakery industry. For us, being the first manufacturer of packaging machines to be honored with this award is an important milestone and reinforces our innovative corporate strategy.” The prize, awarded by Backtechnik Europe magazine, recognizes innovations for the industrial and assembly line-oriented production of baked goods and highlights products that are being presented at the trade fair for the first time. Iba, the world’s leading trade fair for the baking and confectionery industry, takes place every three years at the Munich Exhibition Centre. This year’s iba attracted 57,000 visitors and 1,073 exhibitors to Munich.
Robroy Industries® Enclosures division announces promotion of Jeff Hall to Plant Manager
Robroy Industries Enclosures Division, manufacturers of Stahlin®, the leading brand of fiberglass electrical and industrial enclosures; and AttaBox®, the most durable, extensive family of polycarbonate enclosures, announces that Jeff Hall has been promoted to Plant Manager for the company’s enclosure manufacturing facility in Belding, Michigan. Hall will be responsible for all plant functions as well as managing maintenance team and providing support to the Operations Team. Jeff provides extensive experience from nearly 17 years with Robroy Industries as a plant engineer. Additional expertise includes tool and mold design, injection molding, and facilities management.
Women In Trucking Association announces its November 2023 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Maria Cardenas as its November 2023 Member of the Month. Cardenas is the marketing manager at Sworkz, a nearshoring and staffing service provider. Cardenas’ father’s first job was providing food to truckers on the highways. Years later, as a little girl, he used to sit her on his lap, and she would steer the wheel in a parking lot while he drove slowly. Those moments with him sparked her fascination with driving. “It’s funny how it all comes full circle,” said Cardenas. “From those childhood memories to now working in an industry that’s intrinsically tied to my family’s history.” She is now 27 years old and believes being a young woman in this industry has its own unique set of challenges such as feeling the need to prove yourself and fighting against stereotypes of how a woman should conduct herself or act. However, Cardenas considers herself lucky to have been born into a family where her grandmother, mother, and sister all exuded leadership and strong character. From their example, she has learned to be a strong woman and unapologetically herself. As a result, she has held onto her values and principles, and surrounds herself with empowered women who have guided her through her journey. Cardenas is determined to carve a path not just for herself, but for other women too; enabling them to shine even brighter by staying true to themselves, even in a world that often casts being unique in a negative light. Cardenas feels her journey wasn’t conventional as she has worked in various marketing agencies, spanning B2B and B2C industries to e-commerce to NGOs and education platforms. But it was Sworkz that led her to the nearshoring industry and its unique challenges. “The idea of empowering women in this male-dominated field resonated with me deeply. As part of the leadership team, I have the privilege and ability to make impactful decisions, advocating not just for women’s talents but also helping some of them as business owners to grow their companies,” said Cardenas. “At Sworkz, we are more than just hollow words – we realize we need to lead with our actions. Our leadership team is 50% women, and our marketing team is almost 90%. As a nearshoring and staffing service provider, we have a responsibility to embody the change we want to see in the industry.” Cardenas hopes her story inspires women to keep breaking more barriers saying, “if you’re a woman considering working in this industry, never apologize for being yourself. Embrace your uniqueness, your skills, and your passion. I hope my journey can be a testament that age and gender are not a barrier and what truly matters is your dedication, kindness, and the mark you want to leave on the world.”
Industrial Forklifts adds new Major Accounts Manager
Industrial Forklifts in Phoenix, AZ has announced Trevor Cavanaugh will be their New Major Accounts Manager handling Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and Southern California. Trevor brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to their team. With 25 years of proven success in the industry, and an NCAA background, he has a track record of driving sales growth and fostering collaboration. His strategic vision and leadership skills will undoubtedly help your sales team and provide better support with Industrial Forklifts. Trevor will oversee Industrial Forklifts dealer development and implementing sales strategies.