DB Schenker Rail has won an award in the Environmental Innovation category at the annual Rail Freight Group Awards 2012 for its components recycling facility, the brainchild of staff member Andrew Hogan.
During 2011 Hogan developed a cutting shop to enable damaged stanchion pins used on steel trains to be reused.
The German rail provider also took a joint runner up prize in the Rail Freight Project of the Year category for the introduction of the first regular rail freight services on the the High Speed 1 (HS1) rail route between Barking in the UK and European mainland. HS1 is the only European sized railway in the UK.
DB Schenker introduced the new service between Poland and the UK last November in response to strong demand from customers in the automotive, retail and food sectors.
As a result of it using European standard cars the train, which now operates a twice weekly service can be loaded with European sized curtain-sided swap bodies, which provide an internal height of three metres, allowing two standard pallets to be stacked on top of each other and maximizing the amount of product per train.
The RFG Awards judges were impressed by the potential long-term industry and environmental benefits, particularly its use of modal shift benefits and the opening-up of trading links with the continent, especially Poland.
Based in the UK, the Rail Freight Group aims is to promote cost effective rail solutions for freight. The full winner list can be seen here.
Menlo introduces CarbonNet to lower emissions
Con-Way subsidiary, Menlo Worldwide Logistics, has introduced a carbon management tool designed to manage emissions across its supply chain. Called CarbonNet the software has been developed with expertise in lean tools and continuous improvement processes to capture data and calculate emissions from its activity for better management.
“One of Menlo’s primary business priorities is to drive sustainability practices throughout our operations, with a goal of zero waste,” said Anthony Oliverio, vice president, supply chain services, Menlo Worldwide Logistics. “We developed CarbonNet with this goal in mind, so we can first accurately benchmark and measure the carbon footprint of our operations today, and then identify and capture reduction opportunities,” he explained. Oliverio said that Menlo was using itself as the pilot customer but its goal was to provide the service to its customers as well.
Menlo has been piloting CarbonNet at 60 of its facilities in the US for the past year. Emission source data was collected on each facility and an emissions baseline established. The company said that measurements are currently being made against published industry indexes and standards to identify ways of reducing emissions.
CarbonNet is supported by a team of Menlo Lean and process management experts using a cloud-based software program developed exclusively by Menlo and its IT team.
Penske wins Delphi award for distribution services
Penske Logistics has been given the 2011 Delphi Above & Beyond Award for its distribution centre management services.
Automotive component supplier Delphi honors companies that have exceeded contractual obligations and Penske was one of 18 suppliers from nine countries to receive this award.
"Suppliers contribute to Delphi’s growth and success in so many ways – in collaborative efforts to eliminate waste; in cooperative projects to improve productivity and in innovative methods to improve speed to market," explained Sidney Johnson, Delphi senior vice president of Global Supply Management. "Congratulations to the team at Penske Logistics."
Penske has been operating Delphi’s distribution centres along the U.S.-Mexico border for over 25 years.
"Our company is delighted to have received this award from Delphi," said Dave Cumbo, senior vice president of the West Region for Penske Logistics. "This is a testament to the hard work of Penske associates. Delphi is one of our oldest and most valued customers."
TVS SCS buys Rico Logistics
Inventory management specialist, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, has bought technology specialist group Rico Logistics for an undisclosed sum.
TVS Supply Chain Solutions, which specialises in supplying inventory management to the automotive industry, provides spare parts support to global customers from its UK distribution centre in Chorley, Lancashire, as well as from satellite warehouses at six other UK sites. It also has sites in Spain and Germany.
Rico Logistics, which is also based in the UK, in Slough and has an annual turnover of £45m, specialises in the rapid supply of spare parts, predominantly into the technology industry but also has clients in the automotive industry
UTS to buy Linc Logistics
North American transport provider Universal Truckload Services is to buy Linc Logistics Company, which provides of custom-developed third-party logistics solutions, for around $335m. The combination of Universal and LINC will create one of the largest full-service, asset-light logistics platforms in North America.
Linc primarily provides value-added logistics services to the automotive and manufacturing industries, but also provides dedicated truckload, expedited, and freight forwarding services to customers throughout North America. The company has 43 locations throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2012, Linc generated $301m of revenue $51.6 million.
"The combination of Universal and Linc creates one of the largest full-service, asset-light logistics platforms in North America and significantly enhances our long-term growth profile," said Universal president and CEO, Donald Cochran. "We expect that the addition of Linc's strong business relationships, contractually-based revenue streams, and significant margins will enable us to sell a more comprehensive suite of services to our customers, diversify our business mix, and drive earnings per share growth. We are very excited about the opportunities this transaction will provide Universal going forward."
