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Opinion: How to double up grocery logistics productivity with autonomous mobile robots

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With growing labour availability issues, how can grocery logistics operations significantly boost performance? Vincent Jacquemart, CEO at French autonomous mobile robot designer and manufacturer iFollow, offers a solution.

Faced with the likelihood of long term staff shortages and resulting rises in pay rates, warehouse and distribution centre operators in grocery and many other sectors are turning sometimes belatedly to automation. This is certainly an option but not all solutions deliver really significant productivity improvements.

Labour shortages in logistics have been building for some years, by no means just because of Brexit, and the inability to fulfil orders reliably is becoming an existential threat for many firms.

Logistics UK in October claimed that “13 percent of traders are reporting severe warehouse staff shortages”; in November the Cold Chain Federation noted “10 percent to 20 percent shortage rates” among its members. [Read more…] about Opinion: How to double up grocery logistics productivity with autonomous mobile robots

How to Reduce Any and All Dangerous Driving Habits and Stay Safe

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Since our adolescence, we have been told the rules and regulations for safe driving. However, for some reason, people continue to test the boundaries.

Whether it is due to laziness, recklessness, or perhaps stress and irritation, dangerous driving habits are really not worth the risk.

That is why it’s important to pay attention to your actions so that you can realize that the habits that you believe are harmless can be detrimental. On that note, here are simple ways to reduce your dangerous driving habits and stay safe. [Read more…] about How to Reduce Any and All Dangerous Driving Habits and Stay Safe

US demands Hong Kong-made goods be relabelled ‘Made in China’

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The United States government is calling for goods made or exported to the US from Hong Kong to be relabelled “Made in China”, according to a report on the South China Morning Post. 

The measure, to be introduced by US President Donald Trump, does not appear to need Congressional approval or any kind of vote.

It will mean that Hong Kong companies exporting to the US will be required to pay the same kind of punitive tariffs currently placed on goods arriving in America from mainland China. [Read more…] about US demands Hong Kong-made goods be relabelled ‘Made in China’

Komatsu develops electric mini excavator

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Komatsu Ltd has unveiled its electric mini excavator, based on its accumulated technological expertise of hybrid construction equipment and electric forklift trucks.

Equipped with an in-house developed new charger, high-voltage converter and other devices, it offers excavation performance on a par with the internal combustion model of the same power output, while achieving zero exhaust gas emissions and a dynamic reduction in noise levels.

Komatsu expects a wider range of applications for this machine, including construction work near hospitals or schools or in residential areas, where contractors pay special attention to exhaust gas and noise during work, as well as inside tunnels or buildings.

[Read more…] about Komatsu develops electric mini excavator

Daimler buys PayCash in anticipation of new motoring culture

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The way people get around is going to change, with more people deciding that they don’t want the hassle of owning a car – they just want to hire one from time to time.

This seems to be the prevailing view among established automakers such as Daimler, parent company of Mercedes-Benz, as well as new entrants to the motoring market, such as the smartphone apps which enable users to hail cabs and so on.

In the latest development towards the new motoring world, Daimler has paid an undisclosed sum to buy PayCash, which will become the electronic payment system for the services of the Daimler under the new brand name “Mercedes Pay”, which enables payment through smartphones.  [Read more…] about Daimler buys PayCash in anticipation of new motoring culture