Matthews Automation Solutions listed as a Sample Vendor in 2022 Gartner® Hype Cycle™ for Supply Chain Execution Technologies
Matthews Automation Solutions, a provider of innovative material handling systems and software, and proven process optimization expertise, has announced that it has been identified as a Sample Vendor in the 2022 Gartner Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies. Matthews Automation Solutions was named in the Warehouse Execution Systems and Warehouse Controls Systems categories. [1] The Gartner Hype Cycle is a graphic representation of an emerging technology’s maturity lifecycle and potential adoption trajectory. Hype Cycles insights help clients see the evolution of these technologies and evaluate application deployment opportunities beneficial to their business goals. According to the Gartner Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies, “Warehouse execution systems (WESs) are a hybrid of technology that blends capabilities from traditional warehouse management systems (WMSs) and warehouse controls systems (WCSs). WESs enhance work management in automated warehouses and manage the interplay between automated and manual processes. WESs leverage near-real-time insight into work in the automated warehouse, combined with advanced business logic, to improve the flow, orchestration, and prioritization of work.” In the Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies, Gartner states “Supply chain technology leaders, especially in e-commerce, retail and high-volume direct-to-consumer, are under pressure to drive increased throughput at lower costs per order, which is pushing the need for high-velocity automated fulfillment. WESs is a potentially good fit for new automated order-picking strategies, and companies will look to WESs to help support increased volume and velocity.” “As an established warehouse execution system and warehouse control system provider for over 25 years, Matthews Automation Solutions specializes in providing Information Anywhere and adaptive intelligence through our dynamic suite of warehouse software products. Our breadth of installations of legacy products including Pyramid Director and Compass CORS spans over 500 sites in multiple continents,“ says Gary Cash, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Matthews Automation Solutions. “With, NEXUS, our next-generation WES, we expect to continue setting the standard in terms of managing flow, optimizing performance, and delivering compatibility with virtually any device by leveraging our web-based platform. According to us, being recognized by Gartner highlights our authority in the supply chain execution technology market.” [1] Gartner, “2022 Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Execution Technologies,” Dwight Klappich June 27, 2022.
Women In Trucking Association announces new Gold Level Partnership with DAT Freight & Analytics
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) welcomes DAT Freight & Analytics as its newest Gold Level Partner. The Gold Level partnership is the highest level of support and commitment to the WIT mission: to encourage employment, promote accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Nadya Duke Boone, Chief Product Officer at DAT, will serve on the WIT Board of Directors. “DAT is proud to support Women In Trucking and its mission to encourage more women to join the industry and to support the women already here,” said Boone. “I started my career in engineering and know how valuable it is to demystify traditionally male-dominated industries to demonstrate the opportunities for women. I’m looking forward to helping more women literally get in the driver’s seat.” “We are proud of the extraordinary progress we have made for women at all levels of the trucking industry,” said Ellen Voie, WIT president and CEO. “We look forward to our partnership with DAT Freight & Analytics, leveraging their broad range of services and immense data to gain a deeper understanding of industry trends to strengthen and further the mission of our association.” Founded in 2007, the Women In Trucking Association is a resource for more than 7,000 corporate and individual members located in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as Japan, Australia, Sweden, South Africa, and New Zealand. Recent accomplishments include releasing the 2022 WIT Index, the official barometer to benchmark and measure the percentage of women who make up critical roles in transportation each year, finding professional female drivers increased to 13.7%; participating in White House and FMCSA roundtables and events; launching its Professional Driver Hub, an online resource to encourage driver success; and more than 800 registered attendees at the 2021 Accelerate! Conference and Exhibition.
Zion Solutions Group leading the way as a recipient of the Women in Supply Chain Award
Zion Solutions Group, a supply chain integrator, has announced, Controller, Kathy Frank as a recipient of the 2022 Women in Supply Chain award by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. Receiving this outstanding award showcases Zion’s values and mission to be a team committed to building up others. With 18+ years in the Supply Chain Industry as a Controller and SVP of Operations, Kathy Frank has been an integral part of the Strategy Team and led the creation and implementation of Zion Solutions Group’s financial systems prior to their launch at the beginning of 2022. She continues to be the team member that establishes standard processes and develops programs to ensure employee satisfaction and maximize business efficiency. This year, she is putting in place administrative tools (ERP, HR, Payroll Systems) that will allow Zion’s team members to focus on solving customer problems versus company problems. Respectively, this emphasizes Kathy’s example of leadership and sets a foundation for women at all levels of a company’s supply chain network. Kathy Frank, recipient of the Women in Supply Chain Award, said “it is truly an honor to receive the Women in Supply Chain award. I am excited to continue to be a part of a thriving industry, to work with, mentor, and coach the current and next generation of leaders.” Zion Solutions Group is exceptionally proud of Kathy Frank and hopes to continue leading the way as an industry leader through innovation to enhance the company and better serve its customer with creative solutions to solve their toughest challenges.
inVia Robotics’ Lauren Ziccardi and Kristen Moore are winners of the 3rd Annual Women in Supply Chain Award
Ziccardi and Moore’s combined efforts have helped retailers and 3PLs of all sizes leverage inVia’s AI-powered Automation System to meet eCommerce demand inVia Robotics’ Vice President of Solutions Development, Lauren Ziccardi, and Chief Marketing Officer, Kristen Moore, have been named winners of the 3rd annual Women in Supply Chain Award by Supply & Demand Chain Executive, the only publication covering the entire global supply chain. Alongside Ziccardi and Moore’s leadership, inVia Robotics has brought to market unique technology that makes logistics warehouses more efficient and more productive in spite of a shortage of labor. The Women in Supply Chain award honors female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship, and examples set a foundation for women at all levels of a company’s supply chain network. In the past year, Ziccardi and Moore have helped shape the supply chain industry by shining a light on the breadth of automation options available and how to determine the right solution for each warehouse. Warehouses utilizing inVia Robotics’ AI-powered Automation Solution have been able to digitize and automate their operations in a way that increases both productivity and accuracy. At a time when they’re facing more consumer demands than ever before, they can optimize their warehouse by strategically placing inventory, synchronizing the movement of resources, and automating rote fulfillment tasks. “It’s an honor to receive this recognition alongside such dedicated, talented, and well-respected women in the supply chain industry,” says Ziccardi. “I feel empowered by the fact that I am able to make a difference for our customers, and the industry as a whole, as they not only plan for what’s in front of them, but also for what’s to come.” inVia’s systems are offered on a subscription basis, where customers pay only for the productivity of the system. There are no big capital outlays or burdens of equipment ownership & maintenance, and technology updates are included in the service. So, as new features and performance enhancements are added, customers always have the latest technology advances at work in their warehouses. inVia operates the robotics system with 24/7 monitoring and support and ensures labor – both people and robots – is managed throughout the day to get orders out on time. “I am both grateful and humbled to have been selected for this award,” says Moore. “It has been an honor to work alongside other supply chain industry leaders the last four years to help navigate a time of tremendous growth and change. I am more invigorated than ever to bring ground-breaking automation technology to the market in a way that supports our customers and helps their businesses thrive.” “When I launched this award three years ago, I was prepared for an uphill battle. I was envisioning a long road ahead in getting the supply chain industry educated enough as to why it was important to recognize women in the supply chain. But, this award, the winners and those who submitted nominations—both men and women—is a testament that supply chain organizations were already recognizing their female leaders; they just needed a better platform,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics. “This year, we received over 280 submissions. Almost 100 of those submissions came from men. I’m so proud of everyone who participated, both men and women. I’m proud to call these women mentors, role models, and industry friends. I’m proud to interview them, support them and help promote their journey. And, I hope to see all of this year’s and past years’ winners at our upcoming Women in Supply Chain Forum.” Earlier this year, inVia Robotics was also awarded the 2022 Top Supply Chain Projects Award by Supply & Demand Chain Executive. inVia’s true robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model was awarded for transforming the distribution center of an entertainment merchandise third-party logistics provider (3PL). By implementing inVia’s comprehensive warehouse execution system (WES) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), the 3PL was able to increase productivity rates by 1,000%. Go to https://sdce.me/7wmmgj to view the full list of 2022 Women in Supply Chain winners.
Orbis Corporation’s Nottestad and Boley named 2022 Women in Supply Chain winners
Andrea Nottestad, senior product manager, and Sherry Boley, director, of sales & operations planning, for ORBIS® Corporation, have been named the Supply & Demand Chain Executive (SDCE) 2022 Women in Supply Chain award winners. This award honors female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship, and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company’s supply chain network. Nottestad is at the forefront of leading and developing reusable packaging for retail distribution, general manufacturing, and food and beverage, launching at least 20 brand-new products and optimizing dozens more to create efficiencies within her customers’ supply chains. “I’m incredibly honored to receive this award,” Nottestad said. “During my 25-year tenure at ORBIS, I’m proud of the innovative developments we’ve made in the reusable packaging space to help our customers improve performance, drive sustainability and reduce costs.” Like Nottestad, Boley is driven by an intense desire to drive progress — for her team, customers and ORBIS. Leading the organization’s sales and operations planning process, Boley is responsible for facilitating the collaboration between production and sales. In her more than 30 years at ORBIS, Boley has used her continuous improvement mindset to constantly push the organization forward. “I’m flattered to be recognized alongside other women supply chain leaders with this honor,” Boley said. “But I would be remiss not to mention all those that I have learned from over the years and the team alongside me that is dedicated to improvement and growth. Together, I look forward to continuing to help our organization and customers achieve new success through innovative tools and processes to maximize the benefits of reusable packaging.” SDCE selected Nottestad and Boley for the Women in Supply Chain award from a field of more than 280 professionals in the industry. The winners appeared in SDCE’s September issue. To view the full list of award recipients, visit: https://s3.amazonaws.com/digital.acbusinessmedia.com/SDC/MISC/SDC0922_women%20of-supply.pdf
Nucor announces Leon J. Topalian as Chair of the Board of Directors; names Christopher J. Kearney Lead Independent Director
Nucor Corporation announced that its President and Chief Executive Officer, Leon J. Topalian, has assumed the additional role of Chair of the Board of Directors and that Board member, Christopher J. Kearney, has been appointed Lead Director of the Board, both effective today. John H. Walker, a member of the Board since 2008 and most recently its Non-Executive Chairman, will continue to serve as a Board member. Mr. Topalian has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Nucor and a member of its Board of Directors since 2020. Prior to that time, he held various leadership positions at Nucor, including President and Chief Operating Officer in 2019, Executive Vice President from 2017 to 2019, and Vice President from 2013 to 2017. Having joined Nucor in 1996, Mr. Topalian also has served as General Manager at two of Nucor’s facilities, in Arkansas and Illinois, as well as Melting and Casting Manager, an Operations Manager, a cold mill production supervisor and a project manager. “I feel very privileged to take on this role at Nucor and thank the Board for its confidence in me,” Topalian said. “I want to thank John for his numerous contributions to Nucor. It has been an honor to work with him in his role as Non-Executive Chairman these past few years, and I have benefitted from his experience and perspective. I look forward to working closely with Chris and the rest of Board to continue to build on Nucor’s success.” Mr. Kearney, who was unanimously chosen by the independent directors of Nucor’s Board of Directors to serve as Lead Director, has been an integral member of the Board since he joined in 2008. Mr. Kearney founded Eagle Marsh Holdings, LLC in 2016 and has served as its managing partner since its inception. He also serves as a director of Otis Worldwide Corporation (having previously served as Executive Chairman of the Otis board of directors from 2020 to 2022) and served as a director of UTC from 2018 to 2020, prior to the spin-off of Otis from UTC. Mr. Kearney has served in various positions at SPX FLOW, Inc. (a spin-off of SPX Corporation) from 2015 to 2017 (including as Non-Executive Chairman of its board of directors and as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer) and SPX Corporation from 1997 to 2015 (including as its Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel and as a member of the board). Mr. Kearney was also director of Polypore International, Inc. from 2012 to 2015. “I am honored to have been chosen by my fellow directors to serve as Lead Director of the Board and welcome the opportunity to serve the Board and all Nucor teammates in this new role,” Kearney said. “These changes reflect the thoughtful, planned transition of leadership at Nucor.”
Wolter, Inc. is named a Future 50 Company by BizTimes Media
Wolter, Inc. has been named a 2022 Future 50 company by BizTimes Media in partnership with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. The Future 50 program, now in its 33rd year, recognizes privately-owned companies in the Milwaukee region that have been in business for at least three years and have shown significant revenue and employment growth. “We’re proud to continue the Future 50 program and provide an objective measure of the fastest growing companies in the region,” said Dan Meyer, publisher, and owner of BizTimes Media. “As the region’s only locally owned business publication, we’re excited to celebrate the companies’ creating jobs and opportunities for thousands of people in our communities.” Combined, this year’s Future 50 winners expect to end 2022 with more than 4,800 employees and nearly $2.8 billion in projected revenues. Hitting those marks would mean these companies have added 1,171 jobs combined since 2019 and have grown their revenues by a combined $946 million over that time period. “On behalf of the Milwaukee region’s business community, we congratulate this year’s Future 50 honorees,” said Tim Sheehy, president of the MMAC. “Our regional economy grows when our individual companies grow, and the companies recognized in the Future 50 awards are at the forefront of that growth. The success of these companies also serves as an inspiration for the next generation of entrepreneurs in our region – if these Future 50 companies can succeed here, many others can too.” The Future 50 companies will be honored at an awards luncheon on Friday, September 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Italian Community Center. The luncheon will be hosted by BizTimes Media. To register to attend visit www.biztimes.com/future50. “Our growth has been exponential over the last few years, with a strategic plan in place that included an annual growth of 10%, both organically and through acquisition,” explains Jerry Weidmann, President of Wolter. “This growth is in part by the six acquisitions we have made in the last three years, bringing us from a two-state territory to a seven-state territory.” “Through these acquisitions, we have brought many talented individuals under the Wolter brand and many more diverse product offerings.”
Orbis Corporation’s Alison Zitzke named 2022 PMMI On the Rise winner
The award recognizes 10 professionals who demonstrate leadership in packaging Alison Zitzke, senior product manager for ORBIS® Corporation, has been named a 2022 On the Rise Award winner by PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. This award recognizes 10 young professionals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership qualities in the packaging and processing industry. “Alison is no stranger to breaking barriers as she constantly challenges the status quo in the industry to support the continued conversion from wood pallets to reusable plastic packaging solutions,” said Alex Hempel, senior director for the retail supply chain at ORBIS Corporation. “As a champion of new product development, a participant in professional coaching sessions, and a steward of sustainability, it comes as no surprise that Alison was recognized with this honor.” One of Alison’s most recent achievements has been spearheading the development and launch of ORBIS’ flagship 40-by-48-inch pallet, the Odyssey®, bringing the pallet portfolio into new manufacturing technologies, applications, and markets within the reusable packaging space. Alison is also passionate about promoting the circular economy and experimenting with incorporating post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials back into the manufacturing of new products. “I’m incredibly honored to receive this award and be recognized among other young leaders in the packaging space,” Zitzke said. “During my tenure at ORBIS, I’m proud of the developments we’ve made to help our customers achieve new efficiencies, realize cost savings, and drive sustainability across the supply chain, and I look forward to seeing our continued leadership in the industry for years to come.” Zitzke was recognized alongside other award recipients at PMMI’s annual meeting on Sept. 12 in Oak Brook, Illinois. The winter issue of OEM Magazine, the official publication of PMMI, will feature a profile of Zitzke and the other winners. Read more about the winners and On the Rise Awards here: https://www.pmmi.org/emerging-leaders-network/awards
Joseph R. Hinrichs appointed President and CEO of CSX
Hinrichs will succeed James M. Foote, who will depart on September 26 and will remain as an advisor through early 2023 CSX Corp. has announced that, as part of a planned succession process, its Board of Directors has appointed seasoned executive Joseph R. Hinrichs as the Company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 26, 2022. Hinrichs succeeds James M. Foote, who plans to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as from the Board, on September 26, 2022. Foote will continue to work with the Company through March 31, 2023, as an advisor to facilitate a seamless leadership transition. Hinrichs has more than 30 years of experience in the global automotive, manufacturing, and energy sectors, previously serving as President of Ford Motor Company’s automotive business. In that role, he led the company’s $160-billion global automotive operations, after having previously served as President of Global Operations, President of the Americas, and President of Asia Pacific and Africa. Hinrichs has also held executive roles in global manufacturing, materials planning, and logistics. “This appointment is the result of a long and deliberate process, in which we identified the strongest candidate to lead CSX through its next phase of growth and transformation. Jim has been at the helm throughout most of the company’s transformation, producing record operating and financial results, focusing on sustainability, and emphasizing the importance of safety. We cannot thank him enough for his contributions to CSX, and his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition,” said John J. Zillmer, Chairman of CSX’s Board of Directors. “The Board believes that Joe is a seasoned leader with the relevant experience to lead CSX forward with our full support.” “Joe’s great strength is operational excellence. He enabled Ford to execute world-class manufacturing on a global scale, including prioritizing exceptional customer service. In addition to leading complex businesses over his 30-year career, he has proven that he understands how to prioritize safety and efficiency in an industry with dynamics that are similar to those we are navigating today in rail,” said Jim Foote. “On top of that, Joe truly believes that CSX’s people are critical to its success, and he is focused on forging strong relationships across the organization. Given his excellent track record around operational excellence and employee engagement, I am confident Joe is the right person to lead CSX.” “I am honored to lead a company as strong and storied as CSX,” said Joe Hinrichs. “My focus on day one will be to continue to execute on the strategy the team has identified: leveraging CSX’s proven operating model as a leader in the railroad industry, to drive growth through innovation, harness transformative technology, and build a one-team workforce through an engaging and inclusive culture. I look forward to working closely with the Board, leadership team, labor and government leaders, and the people of CSX to achieve operational excellence that meets industry demand and delivers for our customers and shareholders.” About Joe Hinrichs Hinrichs previously served as President of Ford Motor Company’s global automotive business. In that role, he led the company’s $160-billion automotive operations, overseeing Ford’s global business units and the Ford and Lincoln brands, as well as leading all of Ford’s automotive skill teams, including Product Development, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Labor Affairs, Marketing and Sales, Government Affairs, Information Technology, Sustainability, Safety and Environmental Engineering. Other titles he held at Ford include President of Global Operations, President of the Americas, President of Asia Pacific and Africa, Chairman & CEO of Ford China, and Chairman & CEO of Ford Canada. Hinrichs serves in multiple advisory and board roles of various companies including Exide Technologies, Luminar Technologies, microDrive, and First Move Capital. Hinrichs previously served as a senior advisor at Boyden California, an operating advisor at Assembly Ventures, as well as a director at Ascend Wellness Holdings, GPR, Inc., Rivian Automotive, Inc., and Ford Motor Credit Company. He was Chairman of the National Minority Supplier Development Council from 2016 to 2019 and also served on the boards of CEO Climate Dialogue, Climate Leadership Council, and the US-China Business Council. Hinrichs holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering magna cum laude from the University of Dayton and an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He also holds an Honorary Doctor of Human Letters from Tiffin University and an Honorary Doctor of Science and Business Administration from Cleary University.
U.K.-based IMS/OMS Linnworks completes acquisition of Louisville-based WMS Provider SkuVault
Linnworks, an e-commerce enablement software and order management systems (“OMS”) provider, has announced its formal agreement to acquire SkuVault, a U.S.-based provider of inventory management software (“IMS”) and warehouse management systems (“WMS”) solutions. The deal brings together two companies with a shared vision of accelerating growth for omnichannel sellers. Marlin Equity Partners (“Marlin”), a global investment firm with over $8.1 billion of capital commitments under management, will be the majority shareholder of the combined company. “We are very excited for the combination of our local and global talent that will drive significant value to our customers, employees, and partners,” said Callum Campbell, CEO of Linnworks. “We deeply appreciate SkuVault’s leading position within the North American market, driven by its highly differentiated product that offers rich features and functionality across the IMS and OMS value chain, as well as its deep WMS and third-party logistics (“3PL”) capabilities. We look forward to the depth of experience and spirit of innovation that the SkuVault team will bring to the shared company.” “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Linnworks team to drive strategy and innovation in our industry and increase value for our customers,” said Andy Eastes, CEO and Co-Founder of SkuVault. “Together, we intend to address the most difficult challenges growing omnichannel sellers face and help our customers seamlessly integrate their sales channels and warehouses, fulfill orders more efficiently, and ultimately, grow their respective businesses faster.” Upon closing, Linnworks and SkuVault will combine their strengths to offer robust IMS/OMS solutions in the market, with an excellent user experience, extensive breadth and depth of functionality, and globally available implementation and support services. “We look forward to working with both the Linnworks and SkuVault teams to establish a global category leader in a fast-growing market segment with increased platform breadth and global coverage of customer profiles,” said Peter Chung, a managing director at Marlin. “We believe the businesses are highly complementary, not only from a geographic perspective but also with each bringing strengths across a number of key product capabilities in order management, inventory management, analytics & forecasting, warehouse management, and 3PL support,” said Grant Schachter, a principal at Marlin. “The acquisition of SkuVault underscores Linnworks’ mission to build a leading global provider of e-commerce enablement and OMS solutions,” said Roland Pezzutto, a managing director at Marlin. “Both companies have exhibited strong growth historically, and this transformative merger creates a unique opportunity to accelerate growth through investment in product innovation, go-to-market strategy, account management, and support.” Raymond James & Associates served as SkuVault’s financial advisor. SkuVault’s legal advisor was Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP. DC Advisory acted as financial advisor and Goodwin Procter LLP and Mayer Brown International LLP served as legal advisors to Linnworks and Marlin. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Westfalia promotes Alex Eisenhart to Manager of Business Solutions
In his new role, the former Solutions Architect will lead internal business process development, and data quality management, and oversee the integration of software suites and tools Westfalia Technologies Inc., a provider of logistics solutions for manufacturers and distributors, announces the promotion of Alex Eisenhart to Manager of Business Solutions. Since his hiring in 2007, Alex has excelled as a Senior Software Developer and then Solutions Architect, working in the applications engineering/sales side of the business. In this new role, Alex will be responsible for leading a team of developers as they support data analysis and data management processes within Westfalia’s internal ERP system, as well as rolling out major feature sets that empower the company to be more agile. With a background in enterprise software development and management, Alex has employed traditional software development practices to expedite the adoption of modern data analysis methodologies, solidifying him as a valuable resource for Westfalia’s ongoing success. The new Business Solutions team consists of a multidisciplinary cross-section of operations experts with software development backgrounds. Dan Labell, president at Westfalia, said, “With Alex’s many years of experience in solutions and software development roles within Westfalia, I know he’s going to succeed in leading this team through designing automated solutions for a number of current and upcoming projects. His ability to architect and implement high-performing server applications ensures we are operating with the most refined automation tools available to manage our business more efficiently.” As the Manager of Business Solutions, Alex will assist other leaders throughout Westfalia, helping them remove their roadblocks and increase their speed of delivery, from creating warehouse designs to providing customer support. In addition to tackling internal support of mission-critical systems, Alex’s team will “be responsible for keeping an eye on internal ERP projects, to ensure that we’re using technology appropriately, and to find ways to leverage what other teams create. That could be workflows, automation, custom applications, or CRM and ERP solutions.” “I’m excited to lead a team of highly skilled professionals who are passionate about distributing their knowledge and support, allowing Westfalia to thrive,” said Alex. “By combining operations and software specialists into one team, we’ll be uniquely positioned to provide insight and business intelligence to everyone at Westfalia.” Alex received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Digital Media from Albright College. He also spent time studying Microprocessor Programming and Network Systems abroad at Reutlingen University.
Cutter & Buck chooses AutoStore empowered by Kardex to support their Renton, WA Fulfillment Center
As an apparel manufacturer and distributor, Cutter & Buck is known for high-quality clothing crafted for active lifestyles and engineered for exceptional versatility. Originally founded on Seattle’s working waterfront, Cutter & Buck clothing is perfect for work, travel, date night, golf, walking, boating, hiking, entertaining, and showing fan support for a favorite MLB, NFL, or NCAA College or University Team. Increased sales through its own website, other e-commerce retailers, point of sale locations at golf courses, resort destinations, licensed product Fan Shops, and corporate apparel have led to consistent company growth and increased inventory levels within its fulfillment operation. To accommodate this growth, Cutter & Buck will implement an AutoStore system from Kardex in their Renton, WA location to support their apparel picking and fulfillment operation. Cutter & Buck selected AutoStore, an automated cube storage technology solution, empowered by Kardex for the speed and density of the solution. The Kardex Control Center software (WCS) will drive the AutoStore goods to person fulfillment solution. AutoStore is a fully automated and intelligent goods-to-person storage and retrieval system offering industry-leading product storage density. Bins are stacked vertically in a grid and retrieved by intelligent, battery-powered vehicles that travel on top of the grid system, sorting, carrying, and delivering bins to the respective workstations (ports), where a variety of warehouse operations can be performed (picking, replenishment, inventory control, etc.) by warehouse personnel. The flexible, tailor-made system fits even the most unusually shaped facilities, allowing the grid to be placed around columns, on a mezzanine, and on multiple levels. The bins are stacked neatly on top of each other in a condensed grid-style system, increasing storage capacity up to four times and performance up to 10 times that of traditional storage methods. AutoStore can easily adapt to changing order fulfillment requirements through a flexible configuration of the robots, ports, and quantity of bin locations.
Supreme Systems celebrates 35 Years of success
Supreme Systems, a courier and trucking solutions provider in North America, marked its 35th anniversary on September 14th. “We’re both honored and humbled to be able to celebrate 35 years of success,” states Sean Bennett, president of Supreme Systems. “My father set the standard with how Supreme Systems should operate, the top-notch service we show our clients, and how to invest in our employees to further drive our success.” Supreme Systems was founded by Eric Bennett in 1987 and has since grown into a premier on-demand courier and trucking provider with more than five million deliveries made to date, reaching an estimated 30 million customers coast to coast. “The logistics industry has evolved significantly since Supreme Systems was first founded in the 80s,” Bennett continued. “We’ve navigated through unprecedented challenges like 9/11 and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, and have stood strong as a pillar of the New York City On-Demand Courier industry. We’ve kept a pulse on this community and are proud of the resurrection currently underway.” Supreme Systems remained operational during the shelter-in-place lockdowns at the onset of the COVID crisis as it was deemed an essential business servicing thousands of clients across all industries. Supreme Systems is consistently evolving to better meet the needs of its client base. Since its foundation, Supreme Systems has expanded to Supreme Building Messengers, Supreme Business Solutions, Supreme Fleet Outsourcing, and Supreme Final Mile, each of which serves a specific market helping them meet their business needs. Today, Supreme Systems serves clients in the fashion, publishing, legal, financial, construction, architectural, public relations, advertising, media, retail, e-commerce, mail, and grocery sectors.
LiuGong North America adds Modern Group to dealer network
LiuGong North America has added Bristol, Pennsylvania-based Modern Group Ltd. to its growing dealer lineup. Founded in 1946, the company has become a premium industrial equipment distributor and service provider in the Mid-Atlantic region, with eight locations across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Modern Group President and CEO Paul Farrell said LiuGong’s excellent reputation for quality equipment and service, along with their team of experienced, responsive industry professionals were key reasons for the partnership. “We feel that LiuGong is poised for more great things as they continue to develop share of the U.S. market,” Farrell said. “We look forward to being a part of what we believe will be a very successful relationship for our two companies for many years to come.” LiuGong North America President Andrew Ryan welcomed Modern Group to the dealer network. “Modern Group will play a pivotal role within our growth both in this region and for our dealer network,” Ryan said. “We are thankful that we have reached this agreement and look forward to working with them moving forward.” Modern Group is an employee-owned company that strives to provide world-class sales and service assistance for forklift, recycling, construction, arborist, generator, dock and door applications. LiuGong North America Director of Material Handling Jared Ward said Modern Group will play an integral role in its dealer lineup. “Modern Group is an established heavy equipment distributor in Mid-Atlantic with a stellar reputation for service,” Ward said. “They are a vital part of our dealer network in the region moving forward.” Modern Group has more than 220 employees, 150 of which are technicians, and serves a wide variety of industries, including residential and commercial tree service, land clearing, materials processing, heavy construction, pre-cast, ports, warehouse, hospital and facility maintenance
DB Schenker announces Mike Fahy as the Chief Executive Officer for DB Schenker, Region Americas
Former Executive Board member for Contract Logistics took up his post on September 1. Fahy combines widespread end-to-end experience in both logistics and transport Global logistics provider DB Schenker has announced Mike Fahy as the new Chief Executive Officer for DB Schenker, Region Americas. Mike Fahy has served as the Executive Vice President of Contract Logistics, Americas Region since November 2020. In his new role, he will have full responsibilities for all P&L aspects across the America’s including more than 10,000 employees in 123 locations providing over 27 million sq. ft. of distribution operations to its clients. DB Schenker’s America’s presence includes Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the United States, and Venezuela. Jochen Thewes, CEO, DB Schenker said, “I am delighted to announce the promotion and immediate start of Mike Fahy as the Chief Executive Officer for DB Schenker, Region Americas. Filling this important position from within our own ranks proves once again the enormous talent and quality of our leadership team on all continents. Mike combines widespread experience in both transport and logistics with deep expertise in end-to-end forwarding solutions. I am most impressed with what he has achieved for our customers during his time at DB Schenker.” Mr. Fahy’s career before DB Schenker includes COO for an oil & gas distribution company owned by Simon Group Holdings and CEO of their technology companies. Prior to that, he held several positions at Syncreon culminating as their President of the Technology Segment. Mike Fahy took over responsibility on September 1st from Jochen Thewes, Chief Executive Officer of DB Schenker, who held the position on an interim basis in a dual role.
JLT Mobile Computers gains industry recognition as ‘Top Food Chain Technology’ provider
State-of-the-art rugged computers paired with custom services designed for the specific needs of the food industry secure JLT a much–contested spot on the Food Chain Digest list JLT Mobile Computers, a developer of reliable computing solutions for demanding environments, has been recognized as a 2022 “Top Food Chain Technology” provider by Food Chain Digest, the official magazine of Food Shippers of America (FSA). Designed to serve as a resource to food shippers seeking new opportunities to leverage technologies in their supply chain strategy and execution, the Top Food Chain Technology award program is special in that nominations are industry-validated. Only companies with the strongest reputation and use cases attract sufficient votes from the supply chain, transportation, and logistics professionals in the food industry to secure a coveted spot on the list. “Technology has become the backbone of the food supply chain, where reliable uptime, efficiency, productivity, and transparency are everything,” says Brian Everett, group publisher and editorial director of Food Chain Digest. “The Top Food Chain Technology program recognizes standout technologies and services from leaders such as JLT Mobile Computers that help food shippers accomplish their business goals. JLT not only provides the computing hardware food shippers need to keep their operations running smoothly every minute of every day, but also leverages decades of industry-specific experience to act as a customization partner.” “We are immensely proud to have earned the food industry’s recognition for the value our rugged technology and services bring to the food chain,” says Per Holmberg, CEO JLT Mobile Computers Group. “JLT has a long history of working with leading companies in the food and beverage sector. Engineered and customized for the food industry’s specific feature requirements, our rugged devices truly do what they should: They keep operations running efficiently and increase productivity across the entire food chain, from field to fork, including manufacture, shipping, and storage.” Recent innovations that earned JLT a spot on Food Chain Digest’s 2022 ”Top Food Chain Technology” list include the JLT6012A™ computer, a dedicated and fully rugged new Android version of its popular JLT6012™ Series of terminals. Built from the ground up for the highest reliability and certified for Google Mobile Services (GMS), the new JLT6012A™ addresses the rapidly increasing demand for Android in food and other industrial supply chain operations. The vehicle-mount computer merges professional-grade rugged computer hardware with the simplicity, familiarity, and ease of use often experienced with Android. Besides their leading-edge technology, what also earned JLT industry recognition as a Top Food Chain Technology provider is their high-touch business model. The company typically spends a lot of time trying to understand customers’ specific goals, concerns, challenges, and priorities, before advising on the best device selection and necessary system customizations. A good example of the custom approach is a well-known Fortune 500 US food producer who today deploys thousands of customized JLT devices to keep their production and fulfillment operations efficient and productive. Besides the extreme reliability of the JLT devices and the full lifecycle support, they have found the custom image JLT developed specifically for them of immense value. JLT provided a high-performance image that is locked down, so the screen only shows items the workforce needs to do their specific job. This has made operating the devices more efficient, which has saved the customer a lot of time and money, especially as they deploy such a large fleet of rugged computers from JLT. Significantly, this special custom image also prevents malware and rogue applications from getting onto their network, which ensures uptime and increases security. To view a full list of companies named on the Top Food Chain Technology list, visit www.FoodShippers.org and click “Announcements”.
Women In Trucking Association announces its September 2022 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Haleigh Fickett as its September 2022 Member of the Month. Fickett has been a transport driver for R.H. Foster Energy for a little more than four years. Following in several family members’ footsteps, Fickett’s professional driving career started at a young age. She attended a local technical school and in an effort to gain a better understanding of the trucking industry, she entered the CDL program. Within a few weeks of joining the class and getting some time behind the wheel of a truck, she fell in love with it and knew she had found where she belonged. Fickett has held a CDL for eight years but has only been actively driving for about five years due to difficulties getting hired at a young age with no experience. After obtaining her Class A CDL at the age of 17, she spent a few years working on local farms and other jobs, while constantly applying for different professional driver openings. At the age of 20, she took a position working for the Maine Department of Transportation, which allowed her to get some experience driving plow trucks and other equipment involved in road maintenance. Fickett is always up for a new challenge and jumped at the opportunity the following summer to begin her career at R.H. Foster Energy, obtain her hazmat, and start learning how to haul fuel. Although this decision was a huge step for her, as she never planned to haul hazmat, she believes it has been the best career decision she could have ever made and considers it to be one of the most enjoyable jobs she could ask for. “Hauling fuel is a unique branch of the trucking industry, but one I find very exciting,” said Fickett. “It takes a lot of focus and caution to work with hazardous materials, but it comes with incredible benefits, such as being able to deliver to different locations every day and practicing driving skills in various situations that arise with delivering to public spaces. Local jobs like mine are a great option for women, such as myself, who love the trucking industry, but enjoy the option to be home every night.” This past May, Fickett had the privilege to compete in the Maine Truck Driving Championship, competing against some of the top tanker drivers in the state and ultimately taking first place in the tanker division. As a result, she qualified for the National Truck Driving Championship and was able to compete against the top tanker drivers from across the U.S. “If I could give any advice to other women interested in the trucking industry, it would simply be to never underestimate yourself,” Fickett said. “I was nervous when I was getting started in my current position because it is a very physically demanding job, but I have proven time and time again that if I truly put my mind to it, anything is possible.”
PLA announces opening of Houston pallet management facility
The new location further expands PLA’s nationwide pallet, logistics, and supply chain services capabilities PLA, a portfolio company of Silver Oak Services Partners, LLC (“Silver Oak”), has announced the opening of its newest pallet services facility in Houston, Texas. The addition of this facility brings PLA’s total number of facilities to 76. The new location is centrally located to bring new and recycled pallet supply, transportation, and other supply chain services to customers throughout the greater Houston metro area. Conveniently located just off I-45 and the Sam Houston Tollway, this location will serve PLA’s supply chain customers across a 150-mile radius, overlapping service areas with the company’s San Antonio and Dallas facilities. The nearly 23,000 square foot facility on over eight acres will feature 10 dock doors and process over 3 million pallets annually. The facility has also been equipped with state-of-the-art automated sort and repair equipment which supports PLA’s key focus areas of employee health and safety, customer service, and environmental sustainability. “We’re proud to continue expanding our nationwide footprint to better serve our loyal customers,” said Kyle Otting, PLA’s CEO. “We have had a long history serving customers in the Houston market from our other Texas operations, so adding a facility in Houston was a natural fit for PLA as we expand our extensive supply chain services network and help our customers stay on top of it all.” The Houston facility will bring at least 35 new jobs to the area and is located at 112221 N. Houston Rosslyn Road, Houston, TX, 77086.
Cimcorp to showcase its Automated Bakery Solution at IBIE 2022
Attendees will discover how Cimcorp’s automated order fulfillment solutions help bakeries minimize lead times and maximize product freshness Cimcorp, a manufacturer and integrator of turnkey robotic order fulfillment and tire-handling solutions, announces it will be exhibiting at the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) 2022, scheduled for Sept. 17-21, in Las Vegas. At booth #7527, Cimcorp will showcase its fast, modular, scalable automated solution for optimizing bakery order fulfillment. During the show, Cimcorp will also be recognized as an honoree in the 2022 BEST in Baking Awards program. IBIE is the global grain-based food industry’s largest trade event in the Western Hemisphere, where baking professionals from all segments of the supply chain can explore the latest industry trends and innovations. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience Cimcorp’s automated bakery solution through video demonstrations. Cimcorp experts will also be on hand to discuss how automation can help industrial bakeries: Improve order speed and accuracy Maximize product freshness and shelf life Simplify food safety and sanitation Optimize space utilization Overcome labor shortages Deliver ROI for automated order fulfillment & distribution Prepare for the future Notably, Cimcorp has been named an honoree in IBIE’s BEST in Baking Awards program for 2022. Presented together with Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, the awards recognize exhibitors and suppliers that have made particularly notable achievements in their support of the baking industry. Cimcorp was recognized in the Automation & Robotics category for its innovative bakery automation solution. Cimcorp’s automation is ideal for industries like baking, where product freshness depends on the speed of order fulfillment. Its bakery solution combines buffer storage and order picking into one seamless operation, meeting high throughputs with 100-percent order accuracy. With its industry-leading gantry design, Cimcorp’s solution rapidly handles a large volume of inventory stored in standard crates, trays, and totes stacked across a high-density floor-based storage area. This design maximizes storage space, eliminates expensive racking, and makes it easy to clear the entire storage floor for sanitation. Modular and flexible, Cimcorp’s solution can be scaled up to accommodate seasonal demands as well as business growth, making it a future-proof solution. Bakeries across continents have leveraged Cimcorp’s automated bakery solution to optimize fulfillment, including Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc.®, Fazer Bakeries, and Kwik Trip. “For industrial bakeries, freshness is everything. That’s why automation is essential for staying ahead of the competition,” said Adam Gurga, National Manager of Grocery and Retail Partnerships at Cimcorp. “The speed of automation gets products to store shelves as fast as possible—even when demand spikes. Bakeries can thereby reduce spoilage, eliminate waste, and ensure consumers receive optimally fresh baked goods with maximum shelf life.” IBIE 2022 attendees are invited to book a meeting with the Cimcorp team at the company’s booth. Click here to discover more about Cimcorp’s award-winning automated solutions for the baking industry.
TA Services named winner of Food Logistics’ 2022 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers Award
TA Services, a premier full-service logistics provider, announces that it has been named one of the winners of Food Logistics‘ 2022 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers award. The award recognizes leading third-party logistics and cold storage providers in the cold food and beverage industry. Food Logistics is the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of products through the global cold food supply chain. “We are thrilled to be recognized as a top 3PL in the temperature-controlled space,” said Scott Schell, President and CEO, of TA Services. “We continue to expand not only the amount of services we offer but the quality of those services across North America. We are dedicated to providing the best support to our customers, and I’m thankful for a great team at TA Services that put customer service first.” For over 36 years, TA Services has been in the business of building meaningful and lasting relationships by valuing customer insight and providing solutions tailored to specific needs. Over the last 12 months, TA Services has acquired Houston, AL-based C2 Freight Resources, and Toronto, Canada-based Scout Logistics. These acquisitions have helped TA Services expand its cold-chain logistics and high-end brokerage specialization offerings for current and future customers. As a leading 3PL partner for temperature-sensitive freight, TA Services helps keep food on the table for consumers across the United States. “These past 18 months have been so challenging for U.S. supply chains. It’s the continuous bottlenecks that require fleets to re-tool and pivot accordingly. But, it’s the drivers, the fleet, the warehouses, and software/technologies that really keep today’s supply chains in line,” says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive. “These 3PLs and cold storage providers have collaborated on all facets of their operations to achieve full visibility, complete forecasting, end-to-end leverage, and the ultimate in sustainability. Now is the time to honor and celebrate those companies making magic happen behind the frontlines.” Recipients of this year’s award will be profiled in Food Logistics’ July/Aug 2022 print issue as well as online at www.FoodLogistics.com. Go to https://www.foodlogistics.com/awards to learn more about other Food Logistics’ awards.