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Automotive component supplier cuts forklift fleet costs with Flexi

Narrow Aisle Flexi – manufacturer of the Flexi range of articulated forklift trucks – has won a contract to supply Flexi EURO trucks to the Leipzig factory of leading automotive components supplier Magna Intier. The new facility provides the complete interior trim for the newly launched Porsche Panamera, the elegant four door sports car.

Magna Intier, who provide component parts and other services to a wide range of top-end car manufacturers, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Aston Martin, are using the Flexi trucks to delivery components from an on-site storage warehouse directly to the production line.

Because of the Flexi EURO’s compact dimensions and ability to work both inside within the warehouse and the factory and outside to unload in-coming deliveries. Magna Intier is now able to use articulated forklifts to do work that previously required both counterbalance and reach trucks. This has led to a significant reduction in forklift fleet operating costs for the company as well as increased storage capacity by 25% compared to the reach truck solution.

Magna Intier is the latest German manufacturing company to have made the switch to Flexi trucks. Other companies include: Brose, a supplier of outsourced assembly services to premium passenger car manufacturers; Robert Bosch, the manufacturer and supplier of innovative high-quality automotive technology, consumer goods and industrial technology products; and Heidelberg, the world's leading provider of printing machinery.

The Flexi EURO features all the design characteristics that have made the Flexi the biggest selling range of articulated trucks in Europe, but features a compact chassis and narrow front axle that allows it to work in aisles as narrow as 1600mm wide.

A compact four wheel truck, the Flexi EURO has the ability to lift 1800kg loads and with lift heights of over 8 metres making it suitable for facilities where space is at a premium. Importantly, the fact that the truck has a stable four wheel configuration means that treaded cushion rubber tyres are standard so floor loadings are not compromised making the Flexi EURO equally at home inside and outside.

Narrow Aisle provides Magna Intier with a comprehensive service support package that ensures ‘round the clock’ availability.

Exhibitions

February 2010 - Deutsche Messe postpones premiere of industrial tradeshows in Dubai until 2011
Deutsche Messe is postponing the industrial trade fairs CeMAT MIDDLE EAST, Industrial Automation (IA) MIDDLE EAST and Motion, Drive & Automation (MDA) MIDDLE EAST – all originally schedu led to take place in February 2010 – until 2011.


March 2010 - Stuttgart, 2nd - 4th March
From 2 to 4 March 2010 LogiMAT, the International Trade Fair for Distribution, Materials Handling and Information Flow, is taking place in Stuttgart accompanied by an extensive fringe programme. It is the eighth edition of this annual meeting point for the intralogistics industry – the largest in Europe.


March 2010 - France, 23rd - 26th
Transport and Logistics services, Supply chain Management, Logistics Infrastructures, Logistics Real Estate, Technologies and Information Systems, Materials Handling and Warehouse equipment…


April 2010 - Cleveland, 26th - 29th
NA 2010 (The 2010 Material Handling & Logistics Show and Conference) will bring together manufacturers, consultants, third party logistics providers, publishers and system integrators to demonstrate their equipment, systems and services to tens of thousands of industry professionals from around the world, seeking productivity solutions.


May 2010 - Barcelona, 25th - 28th
Barcelona, 23 November 2009. As part of its constant desire to improve the service it offers exhibitors and visitors as well as provide a bigger and better service, the International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition (SIL) has updated its website.


June 2010 - Guangzhou, China, 2nd - 4th
In China, cold chain logistics industry is in its infancy, While cold chain market share on both sides of the Atlantic has already reached 80 - 90%-that in Europe and Russia is 50%, in developing countries in general is 10 - 20%-only 20% of freight moving in China goes refrigerated.


November 2010 - Eindhoven, 10th - 11th
It is with justified pride that Bureau Bosman BV is introducing Groothandel & Logistiek’s new trade show name. From now on, Groothandel & Logistiek will be called: Bedrijf en Logistiek, the trade show for goods-in, storage and goods-out. The eleventh edition will take place on November 10 and 11 in the Exhibition Building in Eindhoven.  


November 2010 - Birmingham, 16th - 19th
Quartz Publishing & Exhibitions Ltd, organiser of the International Materials Handling Exhibition (IMHX), has announced that – in response to exhibitor requests – the show’s dates have moved from March to November next year.


Case Studies

The Armchair Shoppers
Home shopping and multi-channel retailing is an industry where the customer often seems tantalisingly elusive. That’s why, every year since 2000, the UK’s Royal Mail has commissioned the ‘Home Shopping Tracker Study’ to estimate the size of the UK market, both in terms of customers and spend.

Norway’s first gateway
The Norwegian port of Oslo has long been a focal point for the country’s trade, industry and population. Boasting a highly-agile and skilled logistics labour force the Port is on the cusp of a new era with major expansion and improvement.

A heartland pours open
Ideally located at the heart of western Europe, the Moselle Department, in the Lorraine region of France, offers many advantages to companies wishing to have a strategically located distribution platform.

Movement made easy
Elsewhere in the world of material handling expertise the Dutch logistics service provider Partner Logistics Europe B.V. has been busy in West Flanders. The company recently put into operation probably the largest ‘deep freeze chest’ in Belgium.

Forklift manufacturers react to energy crisis
“Thanks to their inherent high build quality Flexis are straightforward to maintain and our distributors are able to make healthy margins on used Flexis that they put back into the market on contract hire with maintenance packages.”

Legislation set to change
Highly automated warehouses make strict demands on personnel safety. Jarno Palo, of safety specialist Gunnebo Troax AB believes that health and safety legislation and European norms, such as the Machinery Directive, have a huge influence in the hub, covering everything from conveyors to cranes and industrial robots.

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