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NOTED: The Supply Chain In Brief

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NOTED: The Supply Chain In Brief

Green Seeds

  • Container shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, one decade earlier than previously announced, as shipper demand for green transportation rises. The target now covers not only the company’s vessels, but its entire business, including indirect emissions. A.P. Moller-Maersk has ordered 12 vessels that run on carbon-neutral methanol and aims to transport one-quarter of its seaborne freight using greener fuels by 2030.
  • Materials handling system manufacturer Rite-Hite recently installed 900 roof-mounted solar panels on its global headquarters project. The solar panels are one of several green elements used in constructing the 9.5-acre campus, others include DuctSox fabric ductwork and underfloor air dispersion systems.
  • Sustainability insights platform Higg introduced new performance benchmarks for consumer goods manufacturing. Users can compare their environmental and social impact internally and against industry peers, enabling them to build comprehensive environmental and social governance programs. The platform offers performance measurement across carbon, water, waste, and working conditions.
  • The Rhenus Group, a global logistics service provider, will neutralize the carbon emissions of all its less-than-container-load products by 2030. Starting in 2022, cargo shipped with the Rhenus Consolidation Box out of Hilden Gateway will be carbon neutral, with no additional costs to customers. The service will progressively roll out through all gateways in which Rhenus operates worldwide.


Good Works

  • Atlantic Logistics introduced a volunteer and philanthropy initiative called Atlantic Cares, a formal program that grants paid workdays to employees for helping those in need. The company contributes one dollar for every load of freight moved in 2022, and each month a different organization will be chosen for a donation, such as Toys for Tots (pictured).
  • In its largest-ever contribution, truck drivers and other employees at Averitt Express raised more than $1 million in 2021 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This is the third consecutive year Averitt has donated more than $1 million to the hospital. In addition to employee contributions, the company makes contributions in honor of associates’ accomplishments, life events, and participation in community service projects.

M & A

  • Logistics technology company ecovium and warehouse management system provider Mantis Group merged under the umbrella of ecovium Group.
  • North American tank truck transporter and logistics provider The Kenan Advantage Group acquired K-Limited Carrier, an Ohio-based liquid bulk transporter of chemical products.
  • Blume Global, a provider of end-to-end supply chain visibility technology solutions, acquired LiveSource, a multi-enterprise supply chain business network for complex manufacturers.
  • RLS Logistics, a third-party cold chain logistics provider, acquired Michigan-based Hutt Trucking and Logistics and Utah-based Performance Cold Storage.
  • Supply chain solutions provider J.B. Hunt Transport agreed to acquire the assets of LTL transportation services provider Zenith Freight Lines, a subsidiary of Bassett Furniture.
  • Ascend, a full-truckload dry van carrier, acquired Dedicated Transport Solutions, a South Carolina-based transportation company.
  • Fortna, an engineering services and software company for warehousing, acquired Optricity, a warehouse optimization software company.

Shovel Ready

  • Walmart plans to build a new fulfillment center in Olive Branch, Mississippi, as part of its continued effort to grow its national supply chain network and e-commerce capabilities in the South. The 1-million-square-foot facility is set to open in spring 2022 and will store millions of items ready to be shipped directly to consumers.
  • Texas-based developer Cold Creek Solutions broke ground on a 300,500-square-foot cold storage facility in San Antonio. About 294,500 square feet of the site will be a fully convertible temperaturecontrolled space, providing storage for 45,000 pallets of frozen or refrigerated products. The site will allow for single or multi-tenant use.

Sealed Deals

  • SMC³, a less-than-truckload transportation technology solutions provider, extended its long-standing partnership with LandAir, a privately held less-than-truckload carrier in New England. LandAir utilizes SMC³’s managed EDI infrastructure with 24/7 monitoring to provide crucial shipment visibility information to its customers.
  • Logistics company Odyssey Logistics & Technology selected RPA Labs to automate customer emails that request shipment tracking details. Receiving thousands of tracking inquiries every month required time-consuming, manual work from customer service teams. The email automation solution, RPA Engage, is built with a proprietary combination of robotic process automation and a library of logistics terminology that can answer any logistics inquiry in seconds.
  • Hewlett Packard selected One Network to support its digital transformation. Its NEO Platform will help Hewlett Packard integrate supply chain data from partners into a single model, enabling real-time collaboration. One Network’s Digital Supply Chain Network enables visibility, improves execution, and drives process improvements across all operational segments. This improves on-time deliveries and customer service levels, and reduces the cost of goods.

Up the Chain

  • Jeff Born has been named North American director of procurement and supply chain solutions for Tubelite, Alumicor, and Linetec, which provide storefront and finishing solutions as part of Apogee Enterprises. Born has more than 20 years of experience leading supply chain planning, distribution, and warehousing, most recently as vice president of global supply chain at medical device manufacturer SunMed.
  • Job search startup Supply Chain Careers hired Chris Gaffney as a partner to help expand its reach. Gaffney brings more than two decades of supply chain experience with Coca-Cola. He most recently served as vice president of global strategic supply chain at The Coca-Cola Company and is a principal at ECG.

Recognition

  • Logistics services provider Schneider was honored with the SanMar Mask Award. The award recognizes the company’s role in supporting SanMar’s mask distribution when the apparel company pivoted to work with the White House to produce millions of face masks amid short supply during the pandemic.
  • Manhattan Associates’ Manhattan Active Supply Chain was named Best Distribution Innovation in the 2022 Vendors in Partnership Awards. The distinction recognizes innovation that provides the largest productivity improvement, cost reduction, speed to destination, and competitive advantage in the retail industry.

In Memoriam

Coty Dupré, chairman of the board at Dupré Logistics for 33 years, died on January 9, 2022. His business acumen and genuine style of building relationships was invaluable to the company. Dedicated to giving back to his family, community, and employees, Dupré was instrumental in numerous organizations in the Acadiana, Louisiana, community.