Boeing has successfully completed the first suite of synchronized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight tests using new on-board autonomous command and control technology developed by Boeing in Australia.
Conducted at a regional Queensland airfield, the test flights saw five UAV test beds equipped with Boeing’s new on-board system safely complete in-air programmed missions as a team without input from a human pilot.
The milestone comes six months after establishing the company’s largest international autonomous systems development program in Queensland.
“What we’ve created here in Australia has the potential to transform the use of unmanned vehicles for civil, commercial and defense applications – whether that be in the air, on the ground or out at sea,” said Shane Arnott, director of Boeing Phantom Works International.
“This capability will be a huge driver of efficiency and productivity. By safely teaming unmanned systems with human operated systems, we keep people away from dull, dirty and dangerous tasks so they can focus on activities that machines can’t or shouldn’t do.”
Boeing’s partnership with small and medium-sized enterprises helped drive rapid design, development and testing of this autonomous technology. In just two months, Boeing engaged small-to-medium enterprises and vetted and issued AU$2.3 million in contracts with 14 Queensland businesses.
Over the coming months, the Boeing Australia team will incorporate and test more advanced behaviors on high-performance air vehicles before exploring other domains such as unmanned ocean vehicles.
This activity is delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government as part of Boeing’s Advance Queensland Autonomous Systems Platform Technology Project.
For 100 years, Boeing has led manned and unmanned technology innovation and integration from sea to air to space.
Global logistics solutions group, WiseTech Global, recently announced the acquisition of Trinium Technologies, a leading provider of intermodal trucking transportation management systems (TMS) in the United States and Canada.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Trinium offers a complete enterprise TMS for the efficient movement of sea freight containers between port terminals, inland rail terminals, container yards and warehouses. Trinium’s leading product, Trinium-TMS, enables companies to completely automate their processes from order receipt, through customer service, dispatch operations, billing and driver settlements. Trinium also provides container tracking functionality through its integration with dozens of marine terminal and rail systems throughout the US and Canada.
Trinium has over 185 trucking customers including Horizon Freight System, NFI Industries, California Cartage Companies, ContainerPort Group, Schneider Logistics Transportation, The Pasha Group, and many other logistics providers.
“Trinium enables specialized road transport for the first and last mile container movement required on every international shipment, which is a highly specialized transportation process distinct from general road freight,” said WiseTech Global founder and CEO Richard White. “With its valuable experience in containerized road transport, extensive port connections, well-regarded leadership team, and highly scalable, asset-based enterprise solution, Trinium is an important further addition to our cargo chain ecosystem. Together we will leverage our global reach and powerful development capacity to scale up our broader TMS offering globally, building out the eco-system further, and providing ever more productive and integrated solutions to customers across the supply chain.”
Trinium’s long-time managing director, Michael Thomas, said, “Trinium has been providing quality enterprise solutions for intermodal truckers for 17 years, assisting customers in driving real productivity improvements in their operations. Joining the WiseTech Global group will help us take our TMS into markets adjacent to trucking as well as across the globe. With WiseTech, we have an opportunity to innovate and automate at a faster pace and future-proof our applications. This is an important next step for us and our valuable customers.”
Remaining under the leadership of Michael Thomas, with Chief Technology Officer, Barry Assadi, and vice president for sales and marketing Dennis Lane, Trinium will continue to deliver solutions directly to customers across the US and Canada, and potentially to the 7,000 logistics providers across the world that utilize WiseTech’s integrated supply chain execution solutions including its flagship, CargoWise One.
Across 130 countries, CargoWise One enables logistics service providers to execute highly complex transactions in areas such as freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, shipping, tracking, land transport, e-commerce, and cross-border compliance and to manage their operations on one database across multiple users, functions, countries, languages and currencies.
UPS launched a new technology company called Ware2Go recently, aimed at connecting small- and medium-sized businesses with warehouses to help streamline online orders.
Ware2Go recruits and certifies warehouses for merchants, allowing them to expand to new locations and keep up with new e-commerce growth.
“This is really a technology and platform company – more than a services business – with merchants on one side, looking for order fulfillment capabilities, warehouses looking to fill space appropriately. We wanted to build that using the best of both worlds,” said Nick Basford, vice president of global retail and e-commerce strategy for UPS.
Customers make an account on Ware2Go’s website as a merchant, warehouse, or both, and then answer questions on their business or warehouse needs. Once merchants provide details about their products, orders, space requirements, and regional delivery needs, Ware2Go will then allow merchants to manage their inventory and orders across the companies’ cloud-based network.
Ware2Go didn’t disclose which cloud and other tech companies it is partnering with for the venture, nor did it say how many companies have signed up. There are no set fees, the company said, because services vary.
“Ware2Go uses innovative online technology to match excess warehouse and fulfillment capacity with merchant demand to provide transparent inventory, order fulfillment and final delivery,” said Scott Price, chief transformation and strategy officer for UPS.
According to IBIS, the outsourced warehousing market is expected to grow to $26 billion by 2023 based on current growth rates. On demand warehousing market is expected to hit $25 billion, as well.
Hermes gears up for global activity: As of now, Hermes Germany will be taking over SEKO Logistics GmbH with offices in Bremen and Frankfurt and become its legal successor. All employees of both SEKO offices in Germany will be incorporated into the new structure. Hermes will also become a key partner of the global SEKO network. SEKO Logistics is a globally established provider of international supply chain services, which also include freight and IT solutions. With this alliance, the partners aim to combine their competencies in B2B and B2C businesses.
“We are delighted to have found in SEKO Logistics an internationally well-established partner that offers an ideal enhancement of the service spectrum of Hermes. With this acquisition, we will not only create synergy for the entire Hermes Group, the existing customer bases of both companies will also profit from the changes brought about by a broader product portfolio, e.g. in terms of access to fulfilment solutions in the USA, Asia and Europe”, said Stephan Schiller, Managing Director Hermes Europe.
In addition, Hermes Germany will become a key partner of the global SEKO network: The international forwarding and logistics company based in the USA has more than 120 branches in over 40 countries. The network’s focus is on omni-channel logistics, white glove solutions, technology, international air and ocean freight, surface transport, combined transport, demand chain solutions, warehousing and logistics services. This broadens the international growth potential for the Hermes Group, particularly in view of the key e-commerce markets in the USA, Asia and Europe. SEKO Logistics, in turn, will profit from the extensive Hermes distribution network in Europe. With BorderGuru and SEKO Omni Parcel, both companies will be bringing start-ups into the partnership that are specialised in cross-border e-commerce solutions.
James Gagne, President & CEO of SEKO Logistics, commented, “We are extremely pleased to have gained a well-established partner in Hermes, one of the largest players on the European parcel and 2-man-handling market and a highly efficient provider of supply chain solutions. The partnership will blend together the heritage, experience and innovative services of two highly respected logistics companies whilst strengthening our respective global networks and local presence.”
Along with digitization and customer-oriented, flexible services, the Hermes Group’s focus in 2018 is internationalization. The Hermes International business unit established within Hermes Germany at the beginning of the year consolidates all international activities of Hermes. By 2020, the Hermes Group, which is a part of the Otto Group, plans to make investments to the tune of approx. 500 million euros across all business units. The main focus in the current financial year includes the growth of the cross-border parcel service, which is to be promoted by business units such as Hermes International.
Germany-based logistics company DB Schenker has expanded its fifth Southeast-Asian logistics center in Malaysia’s Johor state, following the recent launch of two similar facilities in Shah Alam, Malaysia.
The 224,000-square-foot facility, located in the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) Free Trade Zone, is now in operation, offering clients warehousing, temperature-controlled and ambient storage, distribution and value-added services. It has a total storage capacity of 27,000 pallet positions.
Located fewer than 25 miles away from the Port of Singapore Authority, the Schenker facility has access to Senai International Airport (JHB), and is about 40 miles away from Changi International Airport (SIN) in Singapore, which should be appealing to customers that utilize both air and sea carriers.
Kuehne + Nagel will establish a single region for Europe, consolidating management for all countries under one roof with its head office in Hamburg, Germany.
Dr Hansjorg Rodi, who has been responsible for the Central and Eastern European region and managing director for Germany since October 2016, will lead the Europe region.
Holger Ketz, head of airfreight in Central and Eastern Europe, will take over running the German organisation, and management for Germany will be located in Bremen from January 2019.
Kuehne + Nagel chief executive officer, Dr Detlef Trefzger says, “The formation of a European Region is an important step in the development of the whole Kuehne + Nagel Group, enabling us to manage our business even more efficiently and customer-oriented.
“Furthermore, we are pleased that Kuehne + Nagel Germany will have its future head office in Bremen, where Kuehne + Nagel was founded in 1890.”
DHL has created DHL Parcel (Switzerland) AG to focus on parcel shipping within Switzerland and it has already begun operating.
Thanks to a close network of DHL ServicePoints, which has been set up with local partners, DHL Parcel can offer its parcel services on consumer-friendly terms.
Digitalization is creating new needs, with the growth in online commerce, in particular, offering enormous potential. The e-commerce market is thus giving rise to great growth opportunities for online retailers.
A key factor for sustainable success in e-commerce is customer satisfaction in parcel shipping
DHL Parcel is supporting all commercial and private shipping customers in Switzerland with a future-oriented and tailor-made logistics service – one that offers customer-friendly opening hours at DHL ServicePoints, short delivery times, Saturday delivery and ease of handling. Swiss-based companies can pass on this added value to their customers and benefit themselves from attractive conditions.
“An essential part of our strategy is to be represented in the key European markets,” explains Achim Dünnwald, CEO DHL Parcel Europe. “Market entry into Switzerland is another important milestone in this respect. A total of 27 countries (including Switzerland) now belong to the DHL Parcel Europe network.”
Günter Birnstingl, CEO DHL Parcel (Switzerland) AG, adds, “We would like to offer our customers in Switzerland a modern and forward-looking logistics service that meets not only the requirements of parcel shipping but also the wishes of the end customer. This includes the launch of innovative services – such as standard evening and Saturday delivery – with extended opening hours and a comprehensive package at an attractive price.”
Tristar Group, a Dubai-based logistics company, has acquired Shell Chemicals’ terminal in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) in what it said is “a bid to consolidate its presence at the free zone,” according to a statement released recently.
The deal was signed in July, between Eugene Mayne, group CEO for Tristar, and Jack Eggels, general manager for Chemical operations at Shell Europe, Middle East and Africa.
“We are very proud of this acquisition which has strategic importance not only for us a company but also to our customers who can now have access to a truly turnkey and fully integrated distribution service,” Mayne said in a statement.
The Shell Chemicals terminal is situated on a 21,000 square meters lot and consists of nine above-the-ground storage tanks with a capacity of 5,505 cubic meters.
Under the terms of the deal, Tristar will undertake a capacity expansion and terminal modernization program over the next five years which will see the capacity expansion to over 25,000 cubic meters and designed to house a wide range of all types of solvents and industrial chemicals.
Shell will continue to remain a customer under the terms of the agreement.
Dubai is currently working on making the Al Maktoum International Airport, located at the Dubai World Central (DWC) the largest airport in the world.
The DWC has “lengthened the three ‘arms’ of its Y-shaped terminal (two landside and one airside), adding a ‘hammerhead’ extension to the end of the airside pier to allow for unrestricted growth”, Air Transport World (ATW) reported.
It added that the newest phase in expanding the airport was “now operational”.
Should the airport’s expansions be completed before the Expo 2020, it would become the world’s largest airport complex in the world.
DWC will be a strong support for Dubai’s economic growth, the airline and air-fare-focused website added.
Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has launched a key initiative in co-operation with the Royal Charity Organization that permits all passengers to donate coins or notes of any currency onboard its flights for the RCO.
Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and Chairman of Gulf Air’s Board of Directors and Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, Secretary-General of the RCO on board its flight from Bahrain International Airport to London Heathrow launched the project.
This initiative is aimed at activating social responsibility and allowing passengers to participate and contribute to charitable work, said the national carrier in its statement.
Alzayani praised the Royal patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who is also RCO’s Honorary President, and His Majesty’s attention and patronage of charitable and humanitiarian work inside and outside the kingdom, it stated.
He also praised the efforts of Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the RCO, and his role in the charity scene to provide a better life for all.
Alzayani acclaimed the spectrum of charitable and humanitarian activities of the Royal Charity Organization and confirmed Gulf Air’s commitment in giving back to the community and in contributing to such initiatives driven by RCO for Bahraini orphans.
On the noble initiative, Dr Al Sayyid said this co-operation comes within the community partnership program to provide support, care and opportunities to orphans.
“Donations will be allocated to support health and education programs for the underprivileged families and children,’ he noted.
Mohammed Salahuddin, one of the passengers on the said London flight, was the first person to make donation.
He expressed his admiration to the project and wished success to both parties in this collaboration.
The Gulf Air-RCO donation project is being held for the first time in Bahrain and promotes the principle of community partnership to encourage travellers to donate excess money change by placing it in special envelopes that are located in seat pockets onboard Gulf Air flights.
Technology has made the world smaller and faster.Real time communication with people from all over the world at different time zones through phones and gadgets
