Category Archives: Warehousing

Flyjac Logistics opened Multi-Purpose Logistics Centre (MPLC) in Mumbai. Flyjac is working on setting up multipurpose logistic centres in all Indian metros at a total cost exceeding Rs.700 crores. This latest facility in Taloja, Navi Mumbai, setup at an investment of Rs.300cr, is spread across 5lakh square feet, sitting on a parcel of 22 acres of land. This is the company’s second MPLC, after the maiden facility in Chennai. These MPLCs are aimed at offering improved efficiency and sustainability in serving Flyjac’s esteemed customers to meet their Integrated Logistics needs in the coming times. According to Flyjac officials, this new facility is equipped with automation technologies. including Auto Truck Unloading, Automatic Battery-operated Pallet Trolleys, which will enhance overall efficiency of Logistics operations. Additionally, the complete functioning of the warehouse and related Business processes can be monitored and controlled through an AI-based Control Tower, that ensures speedy and efficient execution. The infrastructure at the MPLC has been setup in a manner that can be scaled up for future requirements in warehousing, trucking and technology. The MPLC inauguration was done by Kaneko Toshihiro, Chief Consul, Consulate General of Japan and Zaiki, Operating Officer, Business Development HQ, LOGISTEED, Japan, Bharat Kaushal, MD Hitachi India, A.V. Ravikumar, CEO & MD, Flyjac Logistics, founding members of Flyjac, were present among others. A.V. Ravikumar said, “Flyjac would continue to uphold their founding values of – ‘Customer Delight, Self-development and Social Welfare.”

Indrani Chatterjee, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Allcargo Group says, “Logistics has always been a service-driven industry. Given the dynamic nature of the industry, it is extremely encouraging to see that more and more logistics companies are emphasizing the role of inclusivity in driving innovation, service competency as well as industry and economic growth. Logistics companies are no longer employing women only in soft-skill driven roles. Women representation is gradually growing in skill and expertise-focused roles, both in entry-level operations-centric profiles and leadership positions. In line with this year’s theme of International Women’s Day – Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, we need to further broaden our perspective towards training and deploying more women professionals, as a robust women participation in the logistics workforce will further strengthen the industry service delivery capabilities. We should continue working towards building a convenient workplace environment along with offering comprehensive training and mentorships to women professionals to firm up workforce diversity.”

Flyjac Logistics has announced the grand opening of its largest Multi-Purpose Logistics Centre in Taloja, Mumbai, on March 7, 2024! This state-of-the-art facility is set to revolutionize the logistics experience.

DP World announced its multimodal service ‘SARAL-2’, connecting Chennai to the National Capital Region under the ‘SARAL’ initiative. This service is the first multi-modal daily rail freight service with a capacity of 500 TEUs per week. DP World launched the first-of-its-kind dedicated scheduled Rail Freight Service, ‘SARAL’ – ‘Sustainable, Assured, Reliable, and Agile Logistics’, connecting customers from South Gujarat to the markets in and around the National Capital Region (NCR) in November 2023. SARAL-2 leverages DP World’s multimodal services by integrating coastal, rail, and truck operations to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and enhance supply chain efficiencies. With a remarkable reduction of~70% in CO2 emissions compared to road transportation, this dedicated service assures efficient cargo transport for customers in Delhi NCR and Chennai. This innovative second service is a joint initiative by Avana Logistek (part of Unifeeder, a DP World company) and DP World’s rail freight services, to offer customized, reliable, and cost- effective logistics solutions to the trade and businesses with weekly frequency bringing India’s northern markets closer to the southern region. Aligned with PM Gati Shakti National Master plan, SARAL-2 multimodal service will provide seamless multimodal connectivity to various industry clusters in and around the region. Speaking on the launch of the SARAL-2 service for the south, Adhendru Jain, Vice President, Rail and Inland Terminals, DP World Subcontinent, said, “This second service under the SARAL initiative is part of our continuous pursuit of enhancing and streamlining logistics for our valued customers. Our end-to-end multimodal daily service connects businesses based in Chennai with the NCR region, establishing a two-way connection for efficient, reliable, and sustainable operations. This service will surely benefit solar industries, commodity, FMCG, and domestic retail businesses …

Kruti Jobanputra, Director, JW Ventures says, “We put the highest emphasis on the safety and security of cargo. We ensure that our clients’ precious cargo is stored, handled and transport safely and with the highest quality. To ensure this safety, entry into any of our premises will require an appointment and prior notice that has to be given to the security. We track everyone who enters and exits the facility thru the use of a Gate Pass. Every vehicle in and out is checked and is inputted into a register. We 24×7 CCTV surveillance and a 100% power back up for our cold-chain facilities. For the storage of cargo itself, we have ensured that there is only one entry and one exit point so that unauthorized access is limited. The security guards are required to check for ID cards and or some form of authorization that requires a person access. For Fire safety we have an emergency response team at each site and have our own fire tender to ensure that the first responders are able to take action and that we do not have to wait for any third party.”

In a recent report titled ‘Exploring India’s thriving logistics and warehousing landscape’ by JLL, the warehousing sector in India demonstrated remarkable growth in 2023, with a 15% year-on-year increase in total stock of Grade A and B spaces across eight major cities. The cumulative warehousing space reached 371 million sq ft by the end of the year, showing a significant rise from 329 million sq ft in the previous year. Yogesh Shevade, Head of Logistics & Industrial at JLL, noted, “The Indian warehousing sector has been on an exceptional growth trajectory since 2017.” He attributed this growth to a 15% YoY increase in total warehousing stock, reaching 371 million sq ft. The sector experienced a net demand of approximately 40 million square feet in the same period, with 70% of this demand being accounted for by Grade A spaces. Shevade emphasized the shift towards quality facilities to meet the evolving demand for efficient logistics and supply chain solutions.

Mahindra Logistics is set to broaden its footprint in West Bengal. As part of this expansion, Mahindra Logistics will commence operations of a 1.1 lakh sq. ft. fulfilment centre in Malda, West Bengal, dedicated to handling fulfilment and last-mile deliveries. This centre is a critical part of Mahindra Logistics’ supply chain network and will execute efficient and timely deliveries through end-to-end fulfilment and distribution capabilities. Additionally, Mahindra Logistics is also adding 14 last-mile delivery stations, touching approximately 15,000 households daily. Tailored for grocery & e-commerce customers, the expansion in the network is the cornerstone of the company’s comprehensive logistics solutions integrating fulfilment, express, as well as mid-mile and last-mile services. As part of the expansion in the Eastern region, the centre is strategically positioned to serve Northern West Bengal, Eastern Bihar, and parts of the Northeast. The facility is a beacon of optimized deliveries with a daily processing capacity of 10,000 orders and an inventory capacity exceeding 15 lakh units; designed to meet and exceed the growing demands of the region. The establishment will generate over 750 job opportunities, including the 350 dedicated personnel for the last-mile network. Mahindra Logistics continues its commitment to diversity, aiming to fill 25% of the fulfilment centre roles with women and individuals from the PwD and LGBTQIA+ communities. Integral to Mahindra Logistics’ vision of expanding its presence across the country, this expansion enhances the company’s warehousing footprint in West Bengal to 3.3 lakh sq. ft. Mahindra Logistics also services full truck load, part truck load and integrated services to nearly 2000 pin codes in the region.

Accio Robotics unveiled, AccioPick Air at the ongoing LogiMAT 2024 trade show in Greater Noida. AccioPick Air is a cutting-edge Mobile Automated Storage and Retrieval System (mASRS) that robotically combines the strengths of fixed and flexible automation to redefine operational efficiency and adaptability in medium to high throughput applications. AccioPick Air offers a set of key features that redefine warehousing automation. The robot’s unique capability to latch onto storage aisles and climb vertically enhances space utilisation and retrieval speed. Its core functionality lies in the seamless, reliable, and accurate retrieval and delivery of bins to the induction station. Employing a hybrid automation approach, Accio Pick Air integrates fixed and flexible automation elements, ensuring stability and adaptability to various storage layouts. Furthermore, the decoupling of bin retrieval and transportation allows dynamic task allocation, enabling any child robot to retrieve a bin and dock with any available mother robot, effectively reducing wait times. The system simplifies operations by eliminating the need for specific tote-to-robot pairings, thereby reducing tote marrying complexity. The mother robot efficiently transports the child robot and tote, streamlining the retrieval and delivery processes. Accio Pick Air’s continuous retrieval and return process minimises idle time, ensuring consistently productive robot operations. The system further addresses the challenge of aisle congestion by allowing empty child robots to travel underneath aisles without totes, optimising space usage. Its flexibility and scalability shine through dynamic task allocation based on robot availability and location, providing an easily scalable solution for varying demands. Tuhin Sharma, Co-Founder, Accio Robotics, said, “AccioPick Air marks a veritable paradigm shift in warehousing automation, seamlessly blending innovation with efficiency. Its unique features are set to push and redefine the possibilities of operational …

Allcargo Supply Chain is poised for significant growth as it expands its operations to meet the evolving needs of the market. Currently operating in 6 million sqft of space, ASPL aims to add an additional 3 million sqft within the next 2-3 years as part of its expansion plan. The initial phase of this expansion plans will begin from the north and south regions. ASPL has warehouses spread across more than 80 locations in India. ASPL’s growth trajectory aligns with the surging demand for a premium logistics solution in key sectors, including auto engineering, ecommerce, chemical, and retail. The company’s diversification plan encompasses an expansion of transportation services, catering to both Full Truck Load (FTL) and city distribution, showcasing its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its diverse customers. Mr. Pirojshaw (Phil) Sarkari, Managing Director, Allcargo Supply Chain Pvt Limited said “Our focus is very firmly on delivering exceptional customer experience and modernising our infrastructure which will go a long way in ensuring the same. What add to our strengths are the synergies with Gati, which is India’s premier express distribution company, As part of Allcargo Group, we are geared to offer truly end-to-end logistics solutions. This synergy aligns with our commitment to delivering unparalleled services to our customers, creating a seamless and efficient supply chain.”

It is exciting times for the Indian logistics and warehousing industry for many reasons like economic growth, emerging warehouses, MMLPs infra etc. National Logistics Policy announced by the Govt. is also a landmark step,” said, T K Manoj Kumar, Chairman, Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA) at the ongoing Warehousing and Logistics show at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi. He added, “Other programmes like Gati Shakti and more focus on building MMLPs will help too in the growth.” The two day show is being organised by PHDCCI in New Delhi has provided a great platform for the industry stakeholders to meet, greet, collaborate and discuss issues pertaining to the sectors.