Kalmar Wins Electric Reachstacker Order From Steinweg
Kalmar has won a contract to supply two electric reachstackers to C. Steinweg – Handelsveem B.V., a Rotterdam‑based terminal operator. The order, booked in Kalmar’s second‑quarter 2026 intake, will be delivered in the first quarter of 2027. The deal also bundles a Kalmar Care service agreement, a MyKalmar INSIGHT subscription with the Driver Access premium module, and genuine parts support. The transaction deepens a partnership that dates back to the 1980s and supports Steinweg’s shift toward electrified cargo‑handling equipment.
Robotaxis Get the Hype, Autonomous Trucks May Get the Profits
Autonomous trucking is hitting a pivotal moment as Gatik expands its middle‑mile freight partnership with PepsiCo across Texas, Arizona and Arkansas, while Volvo Autonomous Solutions targets $3 billion in transport‑as‑a‑service revenue within five years. Waymo signaled a strategic push by acquiring...
Maersk Launches Far East–West Coast South America Service
Maersk will launch the AC1 Far East–West Coast South America service next month, adding eight vessels ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 TEU. The rotation will run Ningbo‑Busan‑Lazaro Cardenas‑Buenaventura‑Guayaquil‑Ningbo, linking key Asian manufacturing hubs with Pacific ports in Mexico, Colombia and...
Why Does PLC Redundancy Fails During Switchover?
PLC redundancy is intended to provide seamless failover, yet many plants experience switchover failures. The primary culprits are tiny synchronization mismatches, network latency on the redundancy link, and firmware or module version gaps that disrupt packet interpretation. Additional factors such...
CU Lines to Deploy Vessels on Hercules Service
CU Lines will begin operating two vessels on the Hercules (HLS) service starting in July, moving beyond its current role as a slot buyer. The service, a joint venture with X‑Press Feeders and T.S. Lines, links key ports from Laem...
Gulftainer Unveils Al Dhaid Multi-Modal Trade Corridor
Gulftainer announced the Al Dhaid Multi‑Modal Trade Corridor, a 150‑hectare logistics hub designed to extend Khorfakkan Port’s capacity to 1.5 million TEUs annually. The project will physically link the deep‑water port with the Etihad Rail network, creating a 50‑km inland corridor that...
Bangkok Port Opens New Cargo Facility to Improve Efficiency
The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) opened a dedicated 22,000‑square‑meter cargo‑handling complex at Bangkok Port, covering Warehouses 8 and 9. The facility separates less‑than‑container‑load (LCL) barge operations from international feeder vessels, streamlining customs and reducing truck turnaround. Direct access to Road 2 lets...
Hubble Network, InPlay Partner to Bring Sub-$1 Global Tracking
Hubble Network has teamed up with InPlay to launch a sub‑$1 global tracking solution that blends Hubble’s satellite‑powered Bluetooth network with InPlay’s IN100 NanoBeacon chip. The partnership leverages more than 95 million ground gateways, delivering item‑level visibility without any dedicated scanning...
Genoa and Misurata Strengthen Cooperation on Port and Logistics Development
The Ports of Genoa hosted a delegation from Libya’s Misurata Free Zone to deepen cooperation on Mediterranean port and logistics development. Officials highlighted Genoa’s €1.4 billion (≈$1.53 billion) open‑sea breakwater project, which will accommodate larger container ships, and a broader €3.6 billion (≈$3.92 billion)...
Hormuz Tanker Blocked as Iran Disputes Scope of US Deal
Iran’s foreign ministry pushed back on President Trump’s claim that a nuclear deal has been broadly approved, saying no final agreement exists and several conditions remain unresolved. Tehran insists any accord must address enriched uranium stockpiles, frozen assets and its...
Honeywell’s AI Tools Ease the Move From Automation to Autonomy
Honeywell is translating its 100‑year automation legacy into AI‑driven autonomy by packaging modular agents for life‑science and industrial processes. The company unveiled tools such as TrackWise AI Compass, CAPA Advisor, and a Records Processing Agent at its User Group Americas...
Briton Guilty of Brokering Jets and Missiles to War Zones
British businessman David Greenhalgh was convicted after a nine‑week trial for brokering illegal sales of ex‑Soviet fighter jets, missile systems and thousands of assault rifles to conflict zones in Sudan, South Sudan and Libya. He and Greek partner Christos Farmakis...
Robotic Trailer Loading/Unloading: High Interest, Limited Adoption
Interest in robotic trailer loading and unloading is high, but adoption remains minimal. A July 2025 Indago survey of 23 supply‑chain executives found only 4% have deployed robots, while 57% are evaluating the technology and 39% have no plans. Cost...
How Major Importers Are Adapting to Qatar LNG Supply Disruptions
New Cedigaz analysis shows major LNG importers are coping with Qatar supply disruptions by leaning on system flexibility rather than contract terms. China, the biggest contracted buyer at 27 mtpa, mitigates risk through high inventories, domestic production and alternative pipeline imports....
The North Sea Route as an Alternative to the Hormuz-Red Sea Conundrum
The ongoing crises in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al‑Mandab have revived interest in the Arctic North Sea Route (NSR) as a viable alternative for global oil, gas and fertilizer shipments. Melting sea ice now allows vessels to shave...
Swire Shipping Raises Rates for Multiple Services
Swire Shipping announced General Rate Increases for cargo bound for Townsville and Darwin in Australia and Dili in Timor‑Leste, effective for bills of lading dated on or after June 25 2026. The carrier will add a $300 surcharge per 20‑foot container and...
Bypass Pipelines’ Popularity Growing Rapidly
The Iran crisis has sharply reduced oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, cutting roughly 20 million barrels per day from the global market. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iraq have shifted volumes onto existing pipelines, with Saudi’s East‑West line now...
The Next Frontier for AI in Health Care Is the Factory Floor
Artificial intelligence is moving from drug discovery into pharmaceutical manufacturing, where it is reshaping factories into data‑driven, resilient operations. Sanofi and peers report AI‑powered yield gains of 5‑10%, faster facility design via digital twins, and real‑time equipment monitoring that cuts...
Electronics: Mexico’s New Export Darling Is an Old Nemesis in Disguise
Taiwanese electronics firms are rapidly relocating production to Mexico, attracted by proximity to the U.S. market and a desire to avoid China‑related supply‑chain risks. A Mexican consultant reports that eight manufacturers arrived since 2024, bringing the total to 14 factories...
America’s Biggest Solar Factory Is Nearly Complete
South Korea‑based Qcells has begun solar‑cell production at its Cartersville, Georgia plant, the only vertically integrated solar factory in the United States. The facility’s module line is already assembling 16,700 panels daily and is slated to reach full capacity by...
Why the Port Fee Suspension Is Running Out of Road
In November 2025 the Trump administration halted Section 301 port fees on vessels linked to Chinese owners, framing the move as a diplomatic concession within a broader U.S.-China trade settlement. The suspension, originally intended as a temporary relief, is set...
Freightos Weekly Update: Ocean Rates Climbing, with More Increases Expected Soon
Ocean freight rates are climbing sharply, with transpacific spot quotes reaching $4,800 per FEU on the West Coast and $6,300 on the East Coast—a weekly rise of over 50 %. The surge is driven by higher oil prices, an imminent 80 %...
Honeywell Charts Automation, AI-Driven Future at 50th Anniversary User Group
Honeywell marked the 50th anniversary of its User Group in Phoenix, using the event to unveil a strategic split into three independent, publicly traded companies. The remaining entity, Honeywell Technologies, will become a pure‑play automation firm serving process, building and...
AD Ports Group Launches Trial Operations at Safaga Terminal in Egypt
AD Ports Group has started trial operations at the Noatum Ports‑Safaga terminal in Egypt, a step toward its full commercial launch later this year. The 810,000‑sqm facility, built under a 30‑year concession, features a 1,000‑metre quay and can handle up...
APSEZ Secures Marine Services Contract for LNG Export Project
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) secured a ten‑year marine services contract for the Southern Energy FLNG project in Argentina, marking its first entry into South America. The award, granted to its subsidiary Adani Harbour International FZCO in a...
Panama Canal to Lower Neopanamax Draft Limit in July
The Panama Canal Authority will cut the maximum Neopanamax draft to 49.5 feet (15 m) on July 1, a half‑foot reduction aimed at preserving water after the severe shortages of 2023‑24. The change coincides with a scheduled dry‑lock maintenance at the Gatun...
Raymond to Preview Updated Courier Automated Tow Tractor at Automate 2026
Raymond Corp. will unveil an updated Courier automated tow tractor and stacker at Automate 2026 in Chicago. The new Courier integrates telematics, virtual‑reality interfaces, and advanced energy systems to boost warehouse efficiency. Raymond also highlights its 4260 stand‑up counterbalanced truck...
Student Startup Raises US$1.85m for Medical Cargo Drone Transport System
Haast Autonomous, a Houston startup founded by Rice University graduates, secured $1.85 million in pre‑seed funding to develop a medical‑cargo drone system. The VTOL aircraft can travel 50‑62 miles while carrying at least 5 lb of temperature‑controlled, sensitive supplies, and its software manages...
Conflict in Logistics Spaces – the Convergence of Production and Logistics and the Challenge of Assured Industrial Access
The article argues that modern warfare now contests not only supply routes but the very industrial capacity that produces, repairs and distributes military materiel. This convergence of logistics and production means nations must guarantee "assured access" to industry capability, even...
NAVEX Webinar — From Compliance to Resilience: Rethinking Supplier Intake in a Volatile World
NAVEX is hosting a live webinar titled “From Compliance to Resilience: Rethinking Supplier Intake in a Volatile World,” scheduled for June 24‑25, 2026. The session will explore how supplier intake processes can be reshaped to address heightened tariffs, sanctions, geopolitical conflict, and...
Hellmann Expands Automotive Logistics Network with New Dubai Hub
Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has broken ground on a 28,000 sqm automotive logistics hub in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone. The facility will handle spare‑part storage, high‑density bins and oversized components, expanding capacity for existing customers and future growth. Hellmann cites a...
How Three Simultaneous Shocks Are Reshaping Global Shipping
The article identifies three concurrent disruptions reshaping global shipping: dark transits that hide cargo in untracked routes, secondary rate contagion where freight price spikes spread from major lanes to secondary corridors, and a revived Houthi blockade in the Red Sea...
What Pharma Leaders Must Get Right for Supply Chain Modernization Strategy
Pharma executives are treating supply chain modernization as a core strategic priority, driven by recent global disruptions, drug shortages, and mounting cost pressures. In a recent interview, PwC’s Rafael Lander outlined how AI‑enabled forecasting, digitally connected quality operations, and integrated...
Supply Chain Modernization Is Now Strategy: What Pharma Leaders Must Get Right
Pharma supply chains have shifted from a back‑office function to a strategic revenue driver amid global disruptions, drug shortages, and cost pressures. Rafael Lander of PwC explains that modernizing logistics with AI forecasting, digital quality, and risk dashboards can boost...
The Future of Drone Tech: Mid-Range Drones
Ukraine is rapidly retrofitting inexpensive commercial drones with small processors and memory chips, giving them autonomous target‑identification and strike capability at ranges of 10‑200 km. The upgrades enable the drones to locate and engage moving targets, turning the battlefield’s rear...
OM in the News: Starbucks Ditches AI Inventory System After Just 9 Months
Starbucks is retiring its AI‑driven computer‑vision inventory system just nine months after launch, citing frequent miscounts and employee criticism. The tool, introduced in September 2025, had been deployed across thousands of North American stores to count stock eight times more...
Israel and Iran Exchange Heavy Strikes as Houthis Seal Red Sea Shipping
The two‑month ceasefire that began on April 8 collapsed after a Hezbollah rocket salvo prompted Israel to strike a Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut, triggering Iran’s IRGC to launch ballistic missiles at Israeli bases. Israel responded with airstrikes on Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz...
SCA Receives Egypt’s First Petroleum Services Vessel
Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority has taken delivery of FAKHR 1, the nation’s first integrated petroleum supply and services vessel, after a 33‑day voyage from China. Built at Ningde Tai Jinzhou Yuajin Shipyard, the 64.8‑meter vessel features a DP2 dynamic positioning system...
When Dynamics 365 Business Central Knows the Order but Not the Delivery
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central accurately records sales orders and warehouse shipments, yet it lacks visibility into the actual movement of trucks and delivery execution. This disconnect forces companies to rely on spreadsheets, emails, or carrier portals to locate shipments, creating...
Far East–India Partnership Reshaped as Carriers Split Joint Service
The Far East‑India container alliance operated by Emirates, Evergreen, Gold Star and KMTC is being split into two distinct services, according to Alphaliner. Gold Star Line will team up with Global Feeder Shipping to launch a redesigned NIX service, while...
From the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management Blogs: RSAT Deprecation; Error when Managing Users; Integrate Supplier Portals;...
Microsoft announced that support for the Regression Suite Automation Tool (RSAT) will end on May 15 2027, prompting Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management customers to seek alternative testing solutions. The deprecation follows years of mixed signals from Microsoft, leaving many users...
Second Flesh-Eating Screwworm Case Raises Beef Supply Fears As Goldman Warns Outbreak "Could Be Disruptive"
The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a second New World screwworm case in a one‑month‑old calf in Zavala County, Texas, just 5.6 miles from the first detection. Both incidents remain inside a USDA‑designated movement‑control zone that employs sterile‑insect dispersal to...
MSC Reshapes Wallaby Service
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has overhauled its Wallaby service, removing all New Zealand ports and focusing the rotation on key Australian and Chinese gateways. The new itinerary links Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Shenzhen (Yantian), Xiamen, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane before returning to...
Heckler & Koch Set to Supply UK Machine Guns for a Decade
The UK Ministry of Defence will award Heckler & Koch (UK) Limited a ten‑year contract worth roughly £70 million (about $86 million) to supply L7A2 general‑purpose machine guns and related gear. The L7A2, an upgraded FN MAG, is the British service’s primary...
Osaka Port Container Volumes Dip 0.5% in April
The Port of Osaka handled 180,600 TEUs in April, marking a 0.5% year‑on‑year decline and its first contraction in five months. Export volumes slipped 2.9% to 83,371 TEUs, while imports rose 1.7% to 97,229 TEUs. Loaded container traffic stayed flat...
Iran’s Oil Lifeline Is Being Squeezed And The Economic Fallout Is Starting To Show
U.S. sanctions have shifted from targeting Iran’s banks and buyers to choking the physical logistics of its crude exports, turning an export challenge into a potential production bottleneck. At the same time, China’s appetite for discounted Iranian oil has waned...
Indian Register of Shipping Expands Into Brazil Market
Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) has launched a new office in Santos, Brazil, extending its footprint across South America’s maritime sector. The office will provide classification, statutory certification, technical inspections and marine assurance services to shipowners, shipyards, offshore operators and...
GXO Appoints Roberto Pascual to Lead Iberia Operations
GXO Logistics has named Roberto Pascual as Managing Director for Spain and Portugal, giving him oversight of the company’s Iberian footprint. Pascual arrives from DHL Supply Chain after more than two decades in senior logistics roles. GXO operates 50 distribution...
China, Tungsten and a Supply Shock in Metal Critical for War that Will Last Far Beyond Iran Conflict – by...
The Iran‑Israel conflict and ongoing war in Ukraine have driven a sharp surge in U.S. demand for tungsten, a metal essential to armor‑piercing ammunition and a host of civilian applications. Because roughly 80% of the United States’ tungsten supply comes...
Alabama Port Authority Secures Federal Funding
The Alabama Port Authority secured more than $49 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2026, including a $38 million allocation for Mobile Bay dredging, $3.2 million for wetlands, $2 million each for rail yard upgrades and McDuffie Coal Terminal modernization, $850,000 for a...