< PreviousUPDATE | DECEMBER 2019 10DECEMBER 2019 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp and the world’s largest express transporta- tion company, has announced that Dubai Airports will join its U.A.E Customer Advisory Board for Roxo, the FedEx SameDay Bot, focusing on the collaboration to develop a device to meet business needs in the United Arab Emirates. Roxo is an autonomous deliv- ery device, designed to travel on sidewalks and along roadsides, safely delivering smaller ship- ments to customers’ homes and businesses. Its features include pedestrian-safe technology from the iBot, plus advanced technology such as LiDAR and multiple cameras, allowing the zero-emission, battery- powered bot to be aware of its surroundings. These features are coupled with machine-learning algo- rithms to detect and avoid ob- Dubai Airports joins Customer Advisory Board for FedEx Express ‘Roxo’ SameDay Bot stacles, plot a safe path, and allow the bot to follow road and safety rules. Proprietary technology makes it highly ca- pable, allowing it to navigate unpaved surfaces, curbs, and to even climb some steps for an extraordinary door-to-door delivery experience. “Feedback from customers will ensure that real-use condi- tions are taken into considera- tion as early as possible during the ongoing development of Roxo’s capabilities. Future lo- cal assessment would operate similar to the testing currently underway in the United States, with selected customers pro- viding insight and advice on their needs and requirements.” said James R. Muhs, Regional President for FedEx Express in the Middle East, Indian Sub- continent and Africa. “This is a great opportunity to see Roxo operate in a live in- ternational travel environment,” Truebell launches enhanced distribution process at Dubai hub UAE-headquar- tered Truebell has launched a new and improved delivery platform at its state-of-the-art distribu- tion centre in Dubai Indus- trial Park (DIP). The new delivery process, which has already been rolled out at over 400 stores across the country including all Zoom stores in the UAE, will generate an improved delivery accuracy of 99.97% as well as maximising efficiency and productivity at the GCC importer’s distribu- tion centre. Truebell divisional manager, retail and food service, Bhushant J. Gandhi, said: “Earlier this year we tried and tested the enhanced delivery system at 189 Zoom stores and an additional 100 retail stores across the UAE.” “Our in-depth analysis into the process found, turnaround times at dock were reduced by around two thirds,” he adds. “We were able to make more deliver- ies during the same journey due to greater efficiency, there was no mis-match of items, 100% batch compliance, no damage to products during delivery, items were stored at the correct speci- fied temperature on all deliveries and no products were returned.” In addition to improving de- livery accuracy, the new pro- cess has helped create greater energy-efficiency by reducing the amount of electricity and fuel used during the process. With no damage to products and zero items returned, the cooling systems in delivery ve- hicles are now only required to be used on the delivery leg of journeys. Gandhi said: “We have already begun initiating the process at select Carrefour and Spinney’s stores across the UAE, with the intention of rolling out the en- hanced distribution process to all retailers, catering companies, hotel and restaurants in the re- gion by the end of 2019.” The new process has helped create greater energy-ef ciency Eugene Barry, Executive Vice President – Commercial, Dubai Airports (left)r said Eugene Barry, Executive Vice President – Commercial, Dubai Airports. “There are several potential applications we see for com- mercial and non-commercial uses between airport teams, and between businesses and travellers. We are excited to be involved in the evaluation with FedEx Express and with our airport partners.”DECEMBER 2019 | UPDATE 11LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | DECEMBER 2019www.logisticsmiddleeast.com Etihad Engineering, the industry-lead- ing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) division of Etihad Aviation Group, has collaborated with EOS and BigRep, both leading 3D printing technology pro- viders, to open the region’s first additive manufactur- ing facility with Design and Production Approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The laboratory, located at the Etihad Engineering facility adjacent to Abu Dhabi Inter- national Airport, features two approved industrial 3D print- ers. The laboratory’s primary machine is the powder-bed fu- sion technology system EOS P 396, for demanding high per- formance and high-quality air- craft applications. In contrast to traditional manufacturing processes, it enables faster pro- duction and reduced weight of cabin parts. had Engineering’s position as a leading global player in aircraft engineering as well as a pioneer in innovation and technology. We are extremely proud to col- laborate with EOS and BigRep to expand our capability and support the UAE’s strategy to increase production technology and cement its position as a global aerospace hub.” Markus Glasser, Senior Vice President, Export Region, EOS, said: “Being committed to high- quality solutions and constant technology innovation, Etihad Engineering and EOS share the same mindset. Together, we want to bring the design and production of aircraft interior parts to the next level.” Glasser continues: “Producing cabin in- terior parts additively will offer a substantial value-add in terms of optimised repair, lightweight design, shorter lead times and customisation, addressing some of the key challenges of the aerospace industry.” Etihad Engineering to open the region’s rst industrial 3D printing facility As an MRO solutions pro- vider committed to continu- ously enhancing the service value it offers to the market and its customers, this month, Etihad Engineering, together with its partner EOS, received one of the first Airline MRO approvals from EASA for 3D printing using powder-bed fu- sion technology which will be used to design, produce and certify additively manufactured parts for the aircraft cabin of the future. Bernhard Randerath, VP Design, Engineering and In- novation, Etihad Engineering, commented: “The launch of the new facility is in line with Eti- ENOC Group and GoAir ink aviation fuel supply agreement GoAir, India’s fast- est growing airline, today signed an avi- ation fuel supply agreement with ENOC Group. Through the agreement, ENOC will provide Go Air with jet fuel supply at Dubai Interna- tional Airport for their fleet of commercial airplanes. On this occasion, Harjinder Singh Bhasin, Vice President - Airports, GoAir said: “GoAir is extremely happy to partner with Dubai-based ENOC and I’m confident that this partner- ship will provide GoAir a larger footprint in the MENA region by virtue of ENOC being the largest supplier.” His Excellency Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO, ENOC, said: “ENOC has been fuelling the aviation industry’s growth locally in the UAE since 1995 and has always had a close as- sociation with Dubai Airports. Today, and with Dubai’s strategic location and impressive airport connectivity, we hope to play a role in realizing the Emirate’s vision in becoming the Middle East aviation hub.” After a track-record of signifi- cant growth and success in the UAE, ENOC further expanded its network and currently covers more than 200 airports across 25 countries, supplying more than 3 million USGs of jet fuel to a diversified portfolio of carriers in the UAE and internationally, with more than 300 fuellings each day. The Group’s international avi- ation presence was established in 2002 and has since provided jet fuel to over 100 customers across airports in the Middle East, Africa, South East Asia and Europe. “Our partnership with GoAir is one that we are proud of and are pleased to play a role to en- able their operations in Dubai.” Added Al Falasi. Etihad will use 3D printing for spare parts in MRO logistics ENOC has been fuelling the aviation industry’s growth locally in the UAE since 1995UPDATE | DECEMBER 2019 12DECEMBER 2019 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com After it’s Sharjah Al Khan branch was named by HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid as one of the worst-performing govern- ment service centres in the country, Emirates Post Group CEO Abdulla Mohammad Alashram has prom- ised change. “Following H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s comprehen- sive evaluation of all UAE’s government centres, we humbly acknowledge that transformation within our business is needed,” he said in a statement. “To address this, we have deployed a dedicated team on-the-ground at our Sharjah Al Khan branch to im- prove services as a matter of urgency, as well as reviewing branches across the network,” he added. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai in April warned public officials that they would lose their posts if they allowed inefficiency and poor service levels in their organisations. He singled out Emirates Post in particular, sharing a picture of a busy waiting area at an unidentified Emir- Emirates Post responds to Dubai Ruler’s criticism ates Post outlet, with the caption: “A photo I received through a secret shopper for the level of services in the Emirates post... This is not our level. Nor our services. Those who continues to provide this level will not be in my team.” A follow-up report found a list of failings that he called on the postal service to immediately address. “As a business, we are focused on improving the quality of our services and enhancing the customer experi- ence in line with the vision and guid- ance of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,” said Alashram. “We are in the midst of a transfor- mation designed to make Emirates Post a postal service to be proud of. The changes taking place across our branch network will see improved offerings and digital solutions that will make our business more streamlined and efficient,” he added. Mammoet makes rst moves for Saudi chemical plant Samsung Engineer- ing has contracted Mammoet, the global leader in engineered heavy lifting and transport, to transport and install 49 modules for the construction of Jubail United Petrochemi- cal Company’s Ethylene Ox- ide–Ethylene Glycol (EO/EG) plant in Saudi Arabia. Following its completion in 2020, the plant is expected to produce 700,000 metric tons of ethylene oxide–ethylene glycol per annum. It will significantly diversify the region’s economy, contributing to the Kingdom’s national transformational pro- gramme - Vision 2030 to move beyond the export of crude oil and natural gas. Mammoet’s scope includes weighing, transporting and installing the various modules along with associated port han- dling and custom clearance ac- tivities. The transport phase was approached with careful plan- ning and preparation to minimize any risk to the project’s schedule. Mammoet worked closely with the Saudi Traffic Police to minimize disruption to local roads and obtained all required permits from the Royal Commis- sion and the High Commission for Industrial Security well in advance. The modules include eight pipe rack modules, ranging in weight between 450 and 650 tons and a 2000-ton wash tower. The pipe rack modules were transported from the client’s yard to the site using 56 axle- lines of SPMT. Once on site they were care- Emirates Post Group CEO Abdulla Mohammad Alashram STORY SUMMARY JEREH INTRODUCES NEW JEBEL ALI WAREHOUSE AT ADIPEC 2019 Jereh, a global-leading oil & gas solution provider, held a ribbon- cutting for the establishment of its new warehouse in Jebel Ali, with 14 local clients and partners participating in the ceremony. The new warehouse will greatly shorten the delivery time and enable quicker response to customers’ needs. Haven Dong, VP of Jereh Middle East Region, said, “As we adopt a localized strategy, Jereh’s business will cover more markets in the broader Middle East, especially after the opening of new warehouse. “The warehouse will store a great number of our reliable and high-durability well service accessories, which is going to guarantee quicker and better after-sales service and help us cre- ate long-term value for clients.” fully set onto foundations. The 2000-ton wash tower, measur- ing 101m x 10.8m x 11.4m, was received at the King Fahd In- dustrial Port and staged at Mam- moet’s yard within the port for custom clearance and weighing. It was then safely transported nine kilometers to the project site using 76 axle-lines of SPMT. The transport of the remaining modules and installation activi- ties will continue through to De- cember 2019. Mammoet has been present in Saudi Arabia for over 40 years, with its first project carried out in the 1970s. Since then the branch has handled a wide range of pres- tigious projects in the Kingdom, providing transport and lifting services for clients in the power, petrochemical, civil and infra- structure sectors.DECEMBER 2019 | UPDATE 13LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | DECEMBER 2019www.logisticsmiddleeast.com In the week of yellow, white or black Friday, when online e-com- merce rms hold their annual sales bonanza, brick and mortar remains strong. The region’s ap- petite for luxury malls shows no sign of abating, despite a global retail downturn, according to experts. . But the concept of ‘retailtain- ment’ will be key to retaining consumer interest, said Timothy Earnest, group director at Dubai- headquartered Al-Futtaim Malls. “What the shopper tells us is that they love going to malls. Whether it’s for shopping, dining out, moments of family enter- tainment or simply for a social experience – they are looking for something that serves all these purposes,” Earnest told Arabian Business. “We call this combination of factors, ‘retailtainment’ and it’s something we look to implement into all of our malls,” the group director said. Earnest said the firm’s upcom- ing 64,800 square metre Festival Plaza mall in Dubai would have all the hallmarks of a ‘retailtain- ment’ centre. Slated to open in December 2019, the Jebel Ali- based mall will feature flagship stores Ace and Ikea, as well as 120 shops, a 500-seat food court, and a ‘stay and play’ option. “As retail evolves, it has be- come more and more about the variety of experiences that people can enjoy, and share with oth- ers. Entertainment, attractions and enjoyable activations are all key components to this trend,” he said. Gulf retailers must offer ultra-experiences and omni-channels to survive, say experts Dubai Customs make over 1,500 seizures in rst half of 2019 Dubai Customs made 1,563 seizures during the rst half of 2019. According to a report from Dubai Media Office, the authority completed 1,306 criminal seizures and 257 cus- toms seizures over the first six months of the year. Director general of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, revealed that they had dealt with 31 items of luggage for 17.7 million passengers on board 135,000 flights arriving to Dubai International Airport over the period. Following a tour of terminals 1 and 2 at DXB, he said: “Dubai has invested billions to get the infrastructure of its ports and airports to a very advanced world class level. This hugely benefits the national economy and Dubai trade as part of the emirate’s vision of main- tain its status as a unique hub of trade and tourism. STORY SUMMARY DEWA EXTENDS FREE ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING INITIATIVE IN DUBAI Owners of electric vehicles in Dubai can enjoy free charging until December 31 2021. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has extended the scheme, which applies to non- commercial users who register for the EV Green Charger Initiative. The incentive, which was due to finish at the end of next month, is exclusive to DEWA public charging stations and does not include home charging stations. Commercial registered users such as government, semi-gov- ernment, and private organisa- tions will be charged 29 fils per kilowatt hour, effective from January 1, 2020.UPDATE | DECEMBER 2019 14DECEMBER 2019 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com Leading GCC FMCG importer Truebell, has highlighted Saudi Arabia as a potential region for distribution expansion as the Kingdom looks set to invest ap- proximately US$ 59 billion into its food industry by 2021, accord- ing to the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority (SAGIA). At present, Truebell has more than 60 global brands in its portfolio and has started exclusively distributing a number of these popular prod- ucts to Saudi Arabia with plans to gradually introduce more of these brands to the Kingdom during the first quarter of 2020. Truebell divisional manager, retail & food service, Bhushant J. Gandhi said: “Trends have evolved especially over recent years – in line with Saudi Arabia’s changing demographics, increased dispos- able incomes and maturing food trends - with demand for varied food stuff, organic ingredients and healthy food products expanding well beyond just the most popular and recognisable local Saudi brands.” Truebell eyes food distribution expansion in Saudi Arabia “As a result, Truebell is working to align current and future supplies with this developing trend,” he said. According to the latest data from Foodex Saudi, around US$70 billion worth of food was consumed in the Kingdom during 2018 with total consumption of organic, gourmet and health products expected to top US$27 billion by the end of this year. With 29 million residents – 50% of which are under the age of 25 – Saudi Arabia has the largest population in the GCC and arguably the population most susceptible to Western consumer food trends. Saudi consumers are becoming more health conscious than ever before and probiotics, whether in supplement format or in food and beverages, are becoming increas- ingly popular due to the health benefits linked to them such as healthier skin, a stronger immune system and an enhanced diges- tion system. University of South Wales Dubai announces new courses for logistics The University of South Wales Dubai is launching four new programmes at Dubai Air Show 2019, which will be offered to students at the specialist Dubai campus in Dubai South Business Park from September 2020. The programmes offered in- clude: • BEng (Hons) Aeronautical Engineering • BEng (Hons) Aeronautical En- gineering (including Foundation Year) • MSc Aviation Engineering and Management • MSc Strategic Procurement Management The BEng (Hons) Aeronau- tical Engineering degree will examine the engineering prin- ciples needed for a career in the aerospace industry, across every aspect of air vehicles; from de- sign, development, manufacture, flight testing and certification, to preserving airworthiness and sustainable aircraft operations. Practical experience will be gained at the bespoke aerospace engineering facility, with flight test lessons to be offered in the final year (weather permitting). Meanwhile the BEng (Hons) Aeronautical Engineering (in- cluding Foundation Year) degree allows students to gain the right qualifications to move onto the degree programme. The MSc Aviation Engineer- ing and Management aims to develop problem solving skills in aviation, from airlines, corporate and general aviation, to com- ponent manufacturing organi- sations and related industries and civil aviation governmental agencies. A key theme through- out the course is the ethical di- mension of decision-making and interpersonal relations, to help students develop personally and professionally. Purchasing and supply chain professionals also have the op- portunity to develop their skills and knowledge with the MSc Strategic Procurement Manage- ment, which is accredited by a number of professional bodies to ensure the qualification is closely aligned to the needs of industry. Students will benefit from the purpose-built 3,000 square metre facility at Dubai South Business Park, which has state of the art learning and teaching space over two storeys, includ- ing an EASA/GCAA accredited workshop with an aircraft and CFM56-3 jet engine, mechani- cal principles laboratories and soundproofed maintenance ar- eas. Dedicated laboratory space for IT and electronic practi- cal tasks and avionics systems are also a key feature that will provide hands-on practical experience for students, and composite-based equipment to produce sample materials. ST OR Y S U MMA R Y KUWAIT’S AGILITY POSTS NET PROFIT RISE DESPITE ‘CHAL- LENGING CONDITIONS’ Kuwait-based logistics ma- jor Agility reported third- quarter net profit of KD21.7 million, an increase of 8.4 percent over the same period in 2018, despite “challenging market conditions”. The company also post- ed a 1.6 percent increase in revenue for Q3 to KD400.7 million. Year to date, net profit was up nearly 8 percent to KD63.6 million while revenue rose 2.2 percent to KD1.2 billion, Agility said in a statement. Tarek Sultan, Agility vice chairman and CEO, said: “Our infrastructure portfo- lio of companies drove our results in the third quarter, with all major entities seeing growth.DECEMBER 2019 | UPDATE 15LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | DECEMBER 2019www.logisticsmiddleeast.com Talabat, the largest food delivery service in the Middle East, is expand- ing its services by add- ing groceries and pharmacies as new categories on its platform. Talabat customers will now be able to order groceries and phar- macy products through the app and select their delivery area across Dubai. A wide range of products and groceries includes Carrefour, 800 Pharmacy and 7/11, it said in a statement. Muhammaed Yildirim, manag- ing director of Talabat, said: “Tala- bat has shaped and revolutionised the regional food delivery service since its inception in 2004. “With the addition of these new categories, we will be working closely with some of the biggest groceries and pharmacies across the country in service of our cus- tomers by having products deliv- ered to them as conveniently as their food is, right to their door. This aligns with our aim of creating exceptional value for our custom- ers as we innovate to simplify the overall delivery experience.” He added: “We are eager to work with more and more part- ners to bring our customers all their daily needs. In the coming months, we will be adding even more options for customers to choose from, and we will be work- ing on making these categories available in more areas around the country.” With a network of over 13,000 restaurants and stores and 24,000 branches, Talabat houses the Middle East’s largest selection of eateries online. Food delivery firm Talabat adds groceries, phar- macy to Dubai services Deliveroo launches in Sharjah as it expands UAE operations Deliveroo, the global food deliv- ery service, has an- nounced its launch in Sharjah, its third city in the UAE. Residents of Sharjah can now order food from favour- ite local restaurants and take- aways, directly to their door through the Deliveroo app. To celebrate the Sharjah launch, Deliveroo is offering free delivery to all customers across the city from a selection of 115 restaurants, it said in a statement. It added that the Sharjah move, its fourth launch in the MENA region, follows its debut in Kuwait in early 2019. Europe’s fastest growing start-up, Deliveroo currently works with 80,000 restaurants Jones The Grocer, Nando’s, Pizza Hut, PAUL Bakery & Restaurant, Zaroob, Al Mallah, Kulfilicious, Makani Restau- rant, Dessi Cuppa and Bombay Club. Globally, Deliveroo operates in over 500 towns and cities across 13 markets, including Australia, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, the UAE, Kuwait and the United Kingdom. and 60,000 riders around the world. Anis Harb, general manager, Deliveroo GCC said: “The UAE has proven to be a very excit- ing market for Deliveroo, with a diverse range of partners and customers across markets. Sharjah has a thriving com- munity with a lot of demand and we look forward to work- ing with our new restaurant partners to expand their busi- nesses.” To celebrate its fourth an- niversary in the UAE, the de- livery platform is also set to introduce Dubai’s first interac- tive food pop up experience, Design, which will be open to the public between November 12-16. Restaurants launching on Deliveroo in Sharjah include STORY SUMMARY SHIP BOUND FOR SAUDI ARABIA,CAPSIZES OFF ROMANIA The Queen Hind bound for Saudi Arabia overturned for yet unknown reasons shortly after leaving Romania’s Midia port. The crew of 20 Syrians and one Lebanese were rescued, together with 32 sheep, two of which were pulled from the water, said Ana-Maria Stoica, a spokeswoman for the rescue services. “The rescue operation is ongoing... We hope that the sheep inside the ship’s hold are still alive,” she told AFP. Romania’s main livestock breeder and exporter asso- ciation, Acebop, called for an urgent investigation.UPDATE | DECEMBER 2019 16DECEMBER 2019 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com Al-Bahar has delivered thirty- ve Cat DP30NT Forklifts along with an exclu-sive Support Bundle to Danube Building Materials FZCO, enabling Danube to carry out ware- housing functionalities e ciently at their facilities across the UAE, including Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah. Danube Building Materials is the region’s leading building materials supplier, offering more than 25,000 products and value-added services. Their warehouses stock plywood, MDF, Nouveau Surfaces, Exotic Tim- ber, Laminates, Veneer, Kitchens & Bath Fittings, Acustica, Tiles, Steel, Adhesives, and much more. The sheer variety of material stocked, demanded high levels of versatility, from the warehousing equipment, in addition to perfor- mance, durability and dependable support. For their kind of operations, they needed machines that assured high capacity engines, higher lifting height, and superior performance. “The value of the Cat brand was known to us, as we have been us- ing Cat Rental Forklifts for over 10 years,” said Madhusudhan Rao, CEO, Danube. “Moreover, we were happy with the excellent dealer support from Al-Bahar, including the avail- ability of parts across the region.” “We rely on Cat Forklifts for the durability & reliability they prom- ise,” added Sultan Ibrahim, fleet manager, Danube. “Higher engine capacity and lifting height were among the other highlights, Cat Forklifts provided us. We see the association as a win-win, and are looking forward to benefiting from this relationship.” Danube chooses Cat Lift Trucks to strengthen its warehouse equipment fleet Triboo ILG establishes of ce at e-com fre- ezone EZDubai in Dubai South EZDubai has an- nounced that the e-commerce zone lo- cated in Dubai South’s Logistics District continues to attract global e-commerce companies seeking to provide pioneering services to the region following the latest joining of e-commerce management and digital marketing services rm Triboo ILG within the free zone. The company, which was recently formed as a joint venture between Triboo, a global e-commerce solu- tions provider headquartered in Italy, listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, and International Luxury Group, a major distributor and producer of luxury goods in the Middle East and Africa, targets to provide leading e-commerce management solutions and cater as well to the e-commerce market’s luxury segment. EZDubai welcomed the latest de- mation including its regional network in the luxury segment. Alessandro Carniel, CEO, Triboo ILG, noted: “Triboo ILG is the first one stop solution digital agency supporting companies in the GCC with full-service e-commerce man- agement solution and digital mar- keting services. Leveraging digital marketing, social media and online marketplaces for sales growth is a game changer that will create an immediate competitive advantage for any organization that deploys it..” velopment as a positive reflection of the increasing attractiveness of the emirate as a global e-commerce hub in line with Dubai’s efforts to boost e-commerce and further drive UAE’s economic diversification. In line with recently launched Dubai E-Commerce Strategy designed by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Mak- toum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, to place the emirate at the top of the global logistics and e-commerce market as a strategic hub and contribute up to AED 12 billion to its GDP by 2023. Triboo ILG is expected to add market value to businesses in the sector serving the region through its complete e-commerce management and digital solutions services, lever- aging its expertise in the field and wide experience in digital transfor- STORY SUMMARY BREAKBULK MIDDLE EAST ALIGNS ITSELF WITH EXPO 2020 Breakbulk Middle East, the GCC’s leading breakbulk and project cargo sector event, will strategically make its return to Dubai and align with the timing of the highly anticipated Expo2020. The fifth annual edi- tion will once again be held under the patronage of Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Develop- ment and the Chairman of Federal Transport Authority for Land and Maritime, and take place on the 25th and 26th of Feburary 2020 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Danube’s Dubai hub holds more than 25,000 products Alessandro Carniel, CEO, Triboo ILGDECEMBER 2019 | UPDATE 17LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | DECEMBER 2019www.logisticsmiddleeast.com LogiPoint has signed an agreement with NAQEL Express, a subsidi- ary of Saudi Post Co and the largest last mile deliv- ery provider in the country, to establish the rst Bonded Ex- press facility in KSA dedicated to e-commerce operations. In line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Devel- opment and Logistics Program (NDLIP), this facility will be the first of its kind at a Saudi Port dedi- cated to the clearance and fulfil- ment of express and e-commerce shipments. Once completed the facility, located at LogiPoint - Bonded and Re-Export Zone at Jeddah Islamic Port, will be able to handle inbound and outbound express shipments by sea, air and land transportation. “The logistics sector in the Kingdom is transforming rapidly, and LogiPoint is the torch-bearer in achieving global competitive standards and in adapting a cus- tomer-focused approach,” said Farooq Shaikh, CEO LogiPoint. “Signing of a long-term agree- ment with NAQEL Express to establish the very first bonded facility dedicated to e-commerce operations is testimony to the trust and confidence our customers pose in us for not only providing them with world-class logistics facilities, but also the eco-system that facilitates their service offer- ings,” he added. “With this expansion, NAQEL Express will further strengthen its service offering to e-retailers, on-line platforms and exporting companies around the world aim- ing to penetrate their target mar- LogiPoint and NAQEL to establish first Bonded Express Facility for e-commerce Dubai’s DP World says Egyptian port expansion nears completion DP World Sokhna has celebrated its 10th anniversary by announcing Basin 2 will be op- erational by the second quarter of 2020 and nearly double ca- pacity at the port to 1.75 million TEUs per year. The expansion cements DP World Sokhna’s position as a major gateway for Egypt’s trade, and the only port in the country capable of handling the largest container ships in the world, a statement said. Built at a cost of $520 million and complementing two opera- tional basins, the expansion into Basin 2 includes a 1.3km long quay with 400 metres in use in phase 1, and a 350,000 square metre container yard. It is one of the largest direct investments into the Egyptian economy this year. routes. “We are confident that our ex- pansion into Basin 2 will signifi- cantly facilitate greater volume capacity at the port, which in turn, supports our commitment to bol- stering Egypt’s economic growth by attracting greater investment and strengthening the foundations for a lucrative trade eco-system.” Ajay Singh, CEO of DP World Sokhna added: “From the begin- ning, we set out to position DP World Sokhna as Egypt’s leading port, and we remain committed to sustaining this success through in-depth market knowledge, con- stant improvement and opera- tional versatility as we continue to mobilise our expertise and resources to develop infrastruc- ture that caters to our customers’ needs, from point of origin to consumption.” The expansion comes as the UAE and Egypt agreed to support a $20 billion joint strategic plat- form to invest in a range of vital sectors and assets, with ports and economic zones being an integral driver for global competitiveness and economic prosperity. Basin 1 is already operational with a capacity of 945,000 TEUs. Basin 3 is a liquid bulk station spanning 400 square metres which is a major gateway for Egypt’s energy imports. Suhail Al Banna, CEO and man- aging director of DP World Middle East and Africa said: “Our success in enabling trade and stimulating commerce at DP World Sokhna over the last decade is a testament to our market strength as a key trade and logistics hub in the south of the Suez Canal with access to the world’s busiest maritime trade STORY SUMMARY CAMSO LAUNCHES NEW NON-MARKING PRESS-ON FORKLIFT TIRE SERIES Camso introduces the Solideal PON 555 NM and PON 550 NM by Camso, two new non-marking additions to the Solideal PON series. These new and improved non-marking press-on tires were developed to deliver increased energy efficiency and thermal performance. Both tires are de- signed to meet the growing needs of indoor applications and rental fleets with operations of medium intensity usage, offering custom- ers a non-marking solution with industry-leading life. Indeed, companies don’t want to see tire marks or black rubber dust on the floor or on their goods, and a growing number of industries have set regulations that require the use of non-marking tires – but none of them can compromise on life or performance. kets in Saudi Arabia and rest of the Middle East,” added Mohammed Al Bayati, CEO NAQEL Express. The agreement was offici- ated in the presence of Captain Abdullah Al Zamee, director general of Jeddah Islamic Port, Mohammed Abdullah, director general Jeddah Islamic Seaport Customs.NEWS ANALYSIS | EMIRATES 18DECEMBER 2019 | LOGISTICS MIDDLE EASTwww.logisticsmiddleeast.com As the largest international airline with the biggest fleet of A380s and Boe- ing 777s, Emirates naturally has a lot of emergency equipment in the skies. To solve the challenge of tracking these essential items on a massive scale and scope, Emirates turned to RFID technology. While other airlines have also been using similar tech- nology, Emirates completes the largest number of RFID scans for inflight emergency equipment on a daily basis – that’s for over 250 aircraft and 133,000 life vests. Im- portantly, it has helped the engineering team maintain emergency equipment across the board with 100% data integrity and compliance, and provide accurate inven- tory forecasts with much greater efficiencies. EMIRATES ENGINEERS EFFICIENCIES WITH RFID Rolling out RFIDs for emer- gency equipment tracking has made our teams extreme- ly proud on three counts: it ties in with our stringent safe- ty standards; it minimises the challenges presented by our massive operations and eet; and it showcases our people’s passion and skillsets,” AHMED SAFA, EMIRATES’ DIVI- SIONAL SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, ENGINEERING Emirates completes the largest number of RFID scans for inflight emergency equipment on a daily basisEMIRATES | NEWS ANALYSIS 19LOGISTICS MIDDLE EAST | DECEMBER 2019www.logisticsmiddleeast.com Ahmed Safa, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president, engineering said: “We are always on the look-out for technology and its applications that boost compliance, efficiencies, employee wellness and, ultimately, the bot- tom line. Rolling out RFIDs for emergency equipment tracking has made our teams extremely proud on three counts: it ties in with our stringent safety standards; it minimises the challenges presented by our massive op- erations and fleet; and it showcases our people’s passion and skillsets. Multiple teams have worked on making this project a stellar success.” Sizeable scale An aircraft typically has around 30 different emergency items, including life vests, baby survival cots, defibril- lators, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, medical kits, oxygen bottles and generators and protective breathing equipment. When totalled, Emirates has around 180,000 emergency equipment in its fleet at any one time. An Airbus A380 has 820 pieces of emergency equip- ment that used to take 350 minutes to manually inspect, and Emirates has 112 such aircraft in the fleet. Similarly, the airline has 144 Boeing 777 passenger aircraft, each with 540 pieces of emergency equipment that used to take 270 minutes to manually inspect. Now thanks to the RFID application, Emirates Engi- neering can scan an A380 in just 11 minutes, a significant saving of 97% time-wise, and a Boeing 777 in just six minutes, or 98% less time. Smarter scope RFID has significantly changed the employee role and interface, improved overall resource efficiencies, and has led to savings of millions annually. The airline has more than 1,800 mechanics trained to complete an aircraft scan. Pre-RFID, to confirm the serviceability of the life vest, mechanics were required to individually access stowage under each of the passenger seats, which could range from 489 to 615 on an A380 and from 354 to 428 in a Boeing 777, and physically read the identification label. Now with all life vests and emergency equipment RFID tagged, a mechanic simply walks through the cabin with a handset that receives all the data, which is uploaded to the Cloud and is then available to the team on any device for future scans. The system generates a full and updated list of ser- viceable life vests and their exact location. It highlights seats without life vests, or those that are reaching expiry dates, enabling quick replacements. Next >