In the Netherlands, work is currently underway on the construction of several multistory distribution centers allowing trucks to be loaded and unloaded on two levels. But what exactly is a multistory distribution center? And what are the key considerations when building one? Dirk Becks shares his insights. The Netherlands is a densely populated country,...

With energy bills now at an all-time high, energy-saving measures make more sense than ever. Groenewout provides an overview of the key ‘quick wins’ for warehouse operations. It is not unusual for newly constructed warehouses to have an energy label of A, or even A+++, because today’s warehouses are built with sustainability in mind. However,...

While the term ‘digital twin’ tends to be widely used and abused nowadays, there are still very few examples of the concept itself being put into practice. Rather than being a simulation model, a digital twin is actually a tool that automatically controls processes, systems or even complete warehouses. In the first article in...

While the term ‘digital twin’ tends to be widely used and abused nowadays, there are still very few examples of the concept itself being put into practice. What most people refer to as a ‘digital twin’ is often actually nothing more than a simulation model like the ones we have been using for years....

On 11 September 2001, a series of terrorist attacks in the USA shocked the world. Since then, security standards have been tightened across the globe, especially in international supply chains. However, 20 years on from the attacks, the situation is still far from clear for many organizations in the logistics sector. Two security experts  explain...

  Automating the order picking process means making choices. One such choice is whether to ship the products in boxes or plastic crates. That decision is often influenced by various practical considerations and is sometimes even made based on what’s already available in the warehouse. Many companies underestimate the impact of this choice on their...

Many companies are curious about the potential of collaborative robots (cobots) in logistics, but there have only been a limited number of real-life implementations so far. In this fifth part in a series of articles about smart warehousing, Dirk Becks, discusses the differences between conventional robots and cobots. The article also explores the advantages and disadvantages...

When it comes to logistics real estate, how does the Netherlands measure up against its neighbors? Is there still land available for the construction of logistics real estate? Does the country have enough space (and societal support) for new e-commerce facilities? And what about the costs and regulations – are they on a par...

Many logistics businesses believe that the remedy to theft and loss is a large and complex access control system, supported by security cameras and visitor/intruder detection systems. But is this really the case, or are they too focused on managing incidents? Groenewout regularly sees companies implementing solutions in response to incidents. According to Groenewout,...

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are on the verge of a breakthrough, as they are increasingly regarded as an effective alternative for traditional conveyor and sorting systems. In this fourth installment in a series of articles about smart warehousing, Dirk Becks, explains which factors are driving the breakthrough and what to look out for when purchasing AMRs. This...