Kerry Logistics Network has trialed the use of a sorting robot at various locations in Asia to meet rising e-commerce demand.
The KoolBee robot has been utilized at facilities in Hong Kong, Tianjin and Dongguan and is said to boost productivity and accuracy.
Kerry claimed that by using KoolBee, the overall sorting productivity is increased by 270%.
The robots have the advantage of being quickly deployed, reconfigured and scaled up, significantly increasing the accessibility and flexibility of sortation automation compared with traditional fixed automation, the logistics firm explained.
Samuel Lau, managing director – integrated logistics North Asia of Kerry Logistics Network, said: “The fashion e-commerce industry is rapidly evolving and consumers’ expectations for fast deliveries are getting higher every year.
“KoolBee is our latest robotics roll-out under the ‘Kool’ banner to optimize sorting operations and bolster order fulfilment efficiency according to the specific needs of each customer.
“It has proven beneficial in supporting customers in handling enormous orders during seasonal peaks and promotion-driven shopping sprees. Following this launch, we are set to utilize this technology for other customers and verticals.”
Autonomous cargo aircraft developer Natilus and zero-emission engine developer ZeroAvia have partnered to jointly develop hydrogen-electric engines for the Natilus Kona cargo aircraft.
ZeroAvia’s ZA600 will be the sole hydrogen-electric propulsion source offered for the Kona short-haul feeder UAV, with the aim of enabling zero-emission and cost efficient operations.
Natilus said its Kona aircraft, which has a blended-wing body (BWB) design, offers increased volume for hydrogen storage, to maximize the flight range.
California-based Natilus recently validated the performance of the BWB design with flight testing of a quarter-scale Kona prototype aircraft, following three years of wind-tunnel testing.
ZeroAvia, which has bases in the UK and the US, has now conducted eight test flights of its prototype ZA600, 600kW engine in a 19-seat testbed aircraft.
Aleksey Matyushev, co-founder and chief executive of Natilus, said: “Natilus has a long-term commitment to being a responsible steward of our environment, instituting practices that can protect the environment through continual improvements to save fuel and water, reduce waste, air emissions, noise, and material consumption.
“The Natilus-ZeroAvia partnership goes further, bringing the talents and innovations of the two companies together to deliver much needed innovation in the air cargo delivery industry and multiple solutions for our customers.”
Val Miftakhov, founder and chief executive of ZeroAvia, said: “Given Natilus’ impressive order book and corresponding technology development, working together on integrating the ZA600 as a line-fit engine for Kona can multiply the emissions and costs benefits that are already interesting cargo operators.
“We all depend on air cargo operators, and some communities depend on them absolutely, so improving the economics and environmental impacts of these operations while increasing service levels is a massive opportunity.”
Natilus currently has more than $6.8bn in order commitments, and 460+ aircraft in pre-orders, from companies including major airlines and integrators: Ameriflight, Volatus Aerospace, Flexport, Astral, Aurora International, and Dymond.
The company is now working on construction of a full-scale Kona technology demonstrator, which will have a wingspan of 85 ft.
This will be the largest commercial air cargo drone and is targeted to fly in 2024, said Natilus.
In December last year, Natilus partnered with engineering and manufacturing company Janicki for composite part design and fabrication for the Kona UAV prototype.
In August 2022, Natilus selected Pratt & Whitney Canada to supply the engines for the Kona UAV.
Natilus is also developing Alisio – a 60-ton payload medium/long range UAV, and Nordes – a 100-ton payload long-range UAV.
ZeroAvia has demonstrated a prototype of the ZA600 with world-first flight testing of a retrofitted 19-seat aircraft in flight with its prototype.
The company has struck several key agreements with airframe OEMs relevant to ZA600 – including Textron Aviation, manufacturer of the Cessna Caravan, and private aircraft manufacturer Otto Aviation.
Air Mauritius has extended its relationship with airfreight IT firm Champ Cargosystems to a worldwide contract, including the EU, as it prepares to adopt the latter’s new ICS2 (Import Control System 2) regulation.
Founded in 1967, Air Mauritius links the island nation with Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, serving ten non-stop regional and international destinations.
It already uses Champ’s Traxon Global Customs (TGC) for selected countries, and will now use the service to automatically provide the necessary advance customs information for air cargo and mail shipments to or via EU member states in order to avoid penalties or delays.
The carrier’s chief commercial officer Laurent Recoura said: “Air Mauritius is upgrading its reservations systems to match the EU requirements in terms of customs clearance through our extended partnership with CHAMP Cargosystems. This is one of Air Mauritius initiatives to ensure we deliver the best service to our customers.”
Champ Cargosystems’ chief commercial officer, Nicholas Xenocostas, added: “With Traxon Global Customs in place, Air Mauritius will have a reliable solution that will support its filing operations, regardless of the changes that come into play.”
Champ Cargosystems serves over 200 airlines and GSAs, linking them to 3,000 forwarders and handlers worldwide. It offers management systems, messaging services, and eCargo solutions, including applications to meet customs and security requirements, quality optimization as well as e-freight and mobility needs under its Cargospot and Traxon brands.
IT solutions provider Kale Logistics Solutions has signed a memorandum of understanding with terminal operator NorthLink Aviation for digital cargo infrastructure at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska.
They plan to create process automation platforms for e-commerce and cargo handling, a stakeholder collaboration platform and other cross-border management tools.
Kale specializes in IT enterprise systems and cargo community platforms for cargo terminal operators, logistics service providers forwarders, consolidators and others.
Anchorage International had the third highest activity among worldwide cargo airports in 2022 – it is a key refueling point for transpacific flights – but NorthLink believes that it still has unrealized potential as a global logistics hub, especially for cross border e-commerce.
It has entered into a 55-year concession for a 120-acre property on the airport’s South Park campus and is developing aircraft parking, fueling, de-icing, warehousing and office space.
NorthLink Aviation chief executive, Sean Dolan, said: “NorthLink is committed to developing and operating a world-class facility and responding to air cargo stakeholders’ evolving needs. We believe Kale is the right partner because of its comprehensive suite of technology offerings for the entire air cargo value chain. Kale’s digital infrastructure, combined with our vision for the logistics industry at ANC, is a recipe for success.”
Kale co-founder and chief executive, Amar More, added: “We are excited by the possibilities that Anchorage offers, and even more excited by NorthLink’s bold vision and passion. We firmly believe that technology is no longer a ‘nice to have’ or a ‘necessary evil,’ but indeed is a business driver for the logistics industry. We look forward to a productive journey with NorthLink.”
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics division of UAE flag-carrier Etihad Airways, has opted to use logistics software system specialist Descartes’s Bluetooth Low Energy container monitoring system to offer greater visibility of conditions of air cargo during the shipping process as well as insight into ULD handling processes.
Descartes’ Internet of Things (IoT)-based Bluetooth Low Energy solution, integrated with Jettainer’s unit load device (ULD) management services, are expected to enable Etihad Cargo’s ability to see where ground and ULD handling processes might be improved while also gaining data concerning the ambient conditions of airfreight in transit.
The Bluetooth tags are fixed to containers or pallets, mobile applications and mesh networks to automate the end-to-end tracking of these assets.
Such tags fixed to ULDs prior to loading onto an aircraft enable easy access to real-time location data and information on the cargo’s condition within, offering data on conditions such as temperature, light, humidity and movement.
They also offer ‘chain of custody’ detail that indicates in whose custody assets are at any given time.
Tags can also be added to any ground service equipment (GSE), like dollies, for visibility of a freight carrier’s handling equipment.
“At Etihad Cargo, we’re continuing to invest in technology and innovation to make air cargo handling more efficient, smarter and faster, and this includes the usage and management of our ULD fleet,” declared Thomas Schürmann, head of cargo operations & delivery at the Abu Dhabi-headquartered cargo carrier.
“The addition of Descartes’ next-generation IoT devices to our ULD fleet provides true operational value for us.
“Etihad Cargo expects to reduce the number of lost ULDs – those that lose their trail somewhere at the airport, at the ground handling agent or the forwarder – by being able to tell exactly where they were last seen.
“We furthermore expect to simplify ground processes, for example, by reducing the time and effort spent on stock take,” Schürmann added.
“We’re pleased to help Etihad Cargo optimise the use of its ULD fleet with richer visibility at both the asset and shipment level,” said Scott Sangster, general manager, logistics service providers at Descartes.
“ULDs are the backbone of the air cargo supply chain and, with coverage in over 1,300 reader locations and 200 airports worldwide, Descartes’ innovations in IoT-based tracking and advanced network capabilities are helping airlines access the status of their ULDs anytime, anywhere – through any internet-enabled device.”
Ontario, Canada-headquartered Descartes is a specialist in providing on-demand, modular, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, security and sustainability of logistics-intensive businesses.
Ram Krishnaswamy, general manager Middle East, Africa & Indian Subcontinent at Jettainer, observed: “As part of our premium product, ULD Select, the combination of our sophisticated ULD management solution with Descartes’ next generation IoT devices can be a powerful boost to our service.
“The technology can provide our valued customers like Etihad Cargo insights into the conditions of their freight, give access to detailed location information, facilitate ULD processing on the ground, and thus further improve asset utilisation.”
Krishnaswamy continued: “Jettainer embraces innovation and digitalisation, and this is exactly what we experience with Descartes as the leading technical provider in the field of Bluetooth Low Energy tracking solutions.
“Potential benefits are not limited to ULD processing, we also see value in streamlining export, transit and import cargo processes and will explore this further with our customers and partners.”
Jettainer offers more than 100,000 ULDs in 500 locations worldwide. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo AG.
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has upgraded its myCargo customer-facing freight platform to offer new functionalities.
According to the Franco-Dutch carrier, “The new allocation functionalities in myCargo are set to revolutionise the way customers manage their cargo allocations online.
“This unique digital service will enable them to view (automatically), book and manage their allocations via myCargo, providing them with greater control and flexibility.”
In addition to the initial release of the new functionalities later this month, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo plans to introduce several other new features to the platform in the months to come, including the ability to automatically book allotments for an entire season.
In addition, the carrier also hopes to launch other new digital offerings, such as an E-Pharma capability, in the near future.
Martinair Cargo, said that the in-house teams working on myCargo improvements have “a clear passion to create optimal customer value.
“This is also confirmed by our results, where we reached last month a record 73% of bookings made via digital channels.
“We expect to make a significant next step by the introduction of the new allocation functionalities in myCargo. We believe that it’s key for our customers that it’s easy to do business with us by giving customers as much control and choice as possible.
“This [is] all based on a well-balanced model whereby state-of-the-art digital solutions will support our expertise, in combination with our dedicated service teams in order to deliver optimal customer value.”
More than six years ago, the myCargo platform started with a quote and book functionality, allowing customers to request quotes based on rates distributed online.
While bookings were initially made manually via a back-office process, the platform now makes use of dynamic pricing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
Over the years, the Air France KLM Martinair team has worked with airline partners to develop and roll out platform features such as track & trace, station capabilities data, the ability to modify bookings and manage claims, the option to add use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to a booking, and product-specific services for pharma, express, and other specialised cargo.
Earlier this month, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo reported that the market slowdown had affected its first-quarter results.
The airline group saw first-quarter cargo revenues decline by 26.1% year on year to €672m, while cargo traffic was down 11.8% on a year earlier to 1.6bn revenue ton kms.
The average load factor for the period was down 12 percentage points to 47.3% on the back of a 10.7% increase in capacity as passenger – and therefore bellyhold – operations were ramped up following the Covid pandemic.
“After the first quarter last year the demand for air cargo decreased due to slower growth of global trade and the partial rebound of sea freight,” Air France KLM said in a results statement.
DHL Global Forwarding has presented its upgraded digital customer portal live from the transport logistic trade fair under way in Munich this week (of which air cargo Europe is a part), and demonstrated what the portal can offer its DHL customer users.
First launched in 2020, Deutsche Post DHL Group’s international freight shipping specialist has introduced new features and updates to the myDHLi portal, making it “even more convenient and efficient”.
Tim Scharwath, chief executive of DHL Global Forwarding, Freight, observed: “We are living in uncertain times, where our customers are facing different challenges in their transportation needs.
“Our role as a logistics provider is to manage these uncertainties and complexities and help our customers to maximise their performance, resilience and sustainability in logistics.
“Our logistics and digital expertise are bundled in myDHLi and help over 16,000 customers navigate also through uncertain times,” he pointed out.
Taking those three elements of performance, resilience and sustainability in turn, the myDHLi development team sought user feedback to explore ways to boost the performance and productivity of customers by way of the portal.
As a whole, myDHLi is designed as a one-stop-shop solution, meeting customers’ transport and logistics needs on a single digital platform.
ItsFollow+Share function simplifies alignment processes and avoids time-consuming communications flows off-platform.
Shipment notifications are now not only configurable, but can also be received as a daily digest.
The feature provides a summary of individually selectable events that are most important to the user – including shipment and customs status and any irregularities that have arisen.
In addition, the new myDHLi book service allows customers with contracted rates to directly submit a booking via the myDHLi portal.
Without extraneous emails, phone calls or API integrations, a booking can be completed in six simple steps.
The functionalities of myDHLi Documents have also been expanded. Documents can now not only be attached to a booking, but uploaded at any time via a recently launched upload feature.
This ensures that documents are always attached to the correct shipment and can be found easily and quickly.
The myDHLi Reports service has also been enhanced. Originally only containing operational data, it was expanded in 2022 to include environmental data, such that it allows users to easily and quickly review sustainability performance.
Plus, invoice level data is available in myDHLi Reports and financial data can be seamlessly combined with operational and sustainability data in fully customisable, schedulable and sharable reports.
This facilitates more accurate and comprehensive reporting against performance indicators at operational, financial and sustainability levels, DHL said.
Second, myDHLi is designed to offer visibility and transparency across three dimensions – environmental impact, costs and lead times. myDHLi now offers a new order visibility option, which provides an overview of orders and order lines.
Furthermore, DHL customers will soon gain a new level of transparency from the overall order to the individual order lines via a seamless link to the related shipment.
In case of disruptions, immediate action can be taken, for instance by shifting the transport mode from ocean freight to airfreight using the Quote + Book functionality of myDHLi.
Third, sustainability represents an integral part of myDHLi. Customers can easily book the GoGreen Plus service via Quote + Book and reduce the carbon emissions of their shipments with the help of sustainable fuels.
To better compare and analyse sustainability efforts, myDHLi Reports also now offers an even greater level of detail. Users can combine operational data with green data, including relevant carbon footprints, but also other emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulphur oxides (SOx).
Together with the GoGreen Dashboard in myDHLi Analytics, customers now have “comprehensive carbon intelligence at their fingertips”, allowing them to visualise their total footprint and efficiency by mode or even individual trade lanes, DHL said.
Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) and Awery Aviation Software have announced a partnership agreement and launched a new joint software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for airlines.
The new SaaS product is called h2A.
Powered by Awery and Hermes, this cloud-based, end-to-end solution is designed to enable airlines to manage, monitor and automate all aviation business processes and cargo operations on an integrated IT platform.
h2A is said by the partners to be “the only comprehensive platform to manage all processes across the entire lifecycle of [a] shipment, from warehousing to flight management and commercial activities, as well as all HR [human resources] and business processes behind the scenes”.
It digitises key processes across flight scheduling, fleet management, track and trace, imports and exports, ULD control, and invoicing and accounts, whilst also offering flexibility to suit the specific needs of its users.
“This partnership responds to an industry need to synchronise numerous, disparate workflow processes, something that can only be achieved through true integration and digitalisation,” said VitalySmilianets, Awery’s chief executive.
“This will enable greater process control and simplify operations for airlines, who can find everything they need in one place.”
By combining Awery’s knowledge of creating scalable aviation software platforms and HLT’s experience as a leading provider of cargo management systems, the pair have – they said – created a first-of-its-kind product that offers airlines twice the technical expertise in a single solution.
“At HLT we believe that collaboration between tech partners offering best-of-breed solutions is key to truly optimising air cargo management, and our joint venture with Awery marks a significant step in our strategy to help digitalise the industry,” remarked Yuval Baruch, HLT’s chief executive.
“h2A brings the best of both our market-leading functionalities together, and users will benefit from a one-of-a-kind airline SaaS solution, which is the most comprehensive and advanced on offer in the air cargo industry.”
Baruch continued: “As the product becomes more established, we foresee h2A having the potential to completely replace airlines’ multiple and disjointed legacy systems to lead a new age in aviation technology.”
Hermes has also revealed that in April, it would be upgrading long-term customer Groundforce Portugal to its latest cloud-based Hermes 5 SaaS cargo management system.
Switching to Hermes SaaS will being major enhancements in terms of security and increasing the speed, volume and accuracy of cargo processing at three of the ground handler’s Portuguese stations, HLT said.
Groundforce Portugal’s operations at Lisbon, Porto, and Funchal airports will all benefit from the migration to Hermes SaaS. Its Faro station is also expected to switch over at some point.
Ostend-Bruges International Airport has activated the Inspection Management app on its community system, the OST Cargo Cloud, powered by Nallian.
Available for desktops or mobile devices, the Inspection Management app on the airport’s cargo community system offers freight forwarders, inspection point operators and local food safety authorities a uniform, digital way to co-ordinate and undertake the inspection of perishable shipments.
Using the app, those involved can efficiently plan and execute relevant actions, digitally share pertinent documentation and certificates, and have real-time status visibility of perishable goods.
The application is integrated with TRACES, the European Commission’s digital certification and management platform for all sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, which reduces and facilitates data input.
Eric Dumas, the chief executive of Ostend-Bruges International Airport, commented: “The Inspection Management app helps us to further increase the quality and speed of our cargo handling, which are important differentiators for our airport.
“We are proud to offer the logistics parties at our hub an efficient way of working that benefits all actors and, ultimately, the end consumer.”
Jean Verheyen, Nallian’s chief executive, added: “Ostend-Bruges International Airport illustrates that also smaller airports benefit from a digital way of working.”
He said he was happy to empower the gateway, and by extension the other airports and ports in Belgium using the app, “with an efficient and uniform inspection process”.
The OST Cargo Cloud is designed to enable a coordinated, digitalised approach to cargo processes at the airport such as freight pick up and drop off, as well as the inspection of perishable goods.
It also provides actionable insights into its end-to-end cargo streams.
Cargo Cloud applications including Inspection Management, Truck Visit Management, Check-it, and Cargo Statistics are intended to enable the cargo hub to streamline actions related to truck visits and the execution of operational and compliance checks, as well as the inspection of perishable goods.
The airport’s cargo activities have grown by 150% over the last two years, it has reported.
The airport is planning to build – as part of its Cargo Village project – 48,000 sq m of additional warehouse facilities.
ANTWERP/BOISE—eTT Aviation and Motulus.aero announced a joint collaboration that will deliver a strong integration between eTTs’ Flight and Crew Management System (FCMS) and Motulus’ suite of planning optimization solutions (Motuplan).
For both companies, this collaboration will create an enhanced product proposition, and ultimately, significant opportunities to create additional value for customers.
“When we met Motulus we were impressed with what they have developed to date in helping airlines,” said Tom LaJoie, CEO of eTT Aviation. “We are looking forward to leveraging their optimization skills initially for developing efficient trip pairings and then exploring other areas where our customers will find value in optimization.”
Motulus CEO Benjamin Algoet comments: “Motulus.aero is excited to join forces with eTT by combining our innovative (crew scheduling, tail assignment and network) optimization solutions with the excellent eTT software to serve airlines in the Americas.”
Based in Antwerp, Belgium, Motulus.aero was formed in 2018 by a team with deep expertise in mathematics and software development whose particular focus is building ground-breaking optimization products.
Having deployed products to a number of industries Motulus had an original mission in aviation to develop innovative products for airline crew resource scheduling problems. Following successful implementations with two European airlines the team’s expertise has now been stretched to solve network optimization and tail assignment problems.
eTripTrader, Inc. (dba eTT Aviation) has been in business over 20 years and is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) headquartered in Boise, Idaho. eTT specializes in scalable aviation flight and crew management, flight planning and dispatch, maintenance, accounting, inventory, HR, and management information solutions that revolutionize the way airlines achieve scheduling flexibility, compliance and control, all while steadfastly adhering to its core values of being Accountable, Ambitious, Ethical, having a Positive Attitude, and always begin Ready, Able, and Willing to Help.
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
