The contract provides work for around 100 colleagues at Unipart’s Honeybourne site in Worcestershire and Baginton site in Coventry and will run to the end of 2022.
The operation packs around 800,000 parts every month prior to them being put into storage and distributed across the Jaguar Land Rover global network.
Unipart Logistics started packing for Jaguar Land Rover in 2007 at the Honeybourne site. The service was extended to Baginton in 2010. Since then, the scope of Unipart’s service has grown to the point where the full range of Jaguar products are now packed.
Unipart Account Director for Liz Satinet said: “I’m delighted we have secured this contract at both Baginton and Honeybourne. The packer operation is a highly visible activity to a multitude of areas within the Jaguar Land Rover supply chain and requires significant collaboration with the customer.
"The team has really worked hard to streamline the processes using digital solutions to enhance the quality and efficiency of the service and enable us to win this four year contract”
Britcon has recently completed phase 1a on the 100 acre former Tioxide site in Grimsby to provide a 10 acre vehicle import/export storage facility. Phase 1b includes development of a further 8.5 acres on the site.
Both phases include extensive design work with earthworks modelling optimisation for the groundworks and drainage which had to be calculated for full storm conditions including compliant attenuation systems utilising large bore pipework, channel drainage systems and existing watercourses.
Britcon is also contracted to provide perimeter security fencing, LED lighting on 30 metre high masts, lining and signage as well as all the tarmac surfacing work for the project in collaboration with sister firm Specialist Surfacing Ltd.
ABP is the UK’s leading ports operator with a network of 21 ports that support 119,000 jobs and contribute £7.5 billion ($9.12 billion) to the economy every year, handling £149 billion of trade. The Port of Grimsby is one of the UK’s leading automotive ports and a major hub for the burgeoning offshore wind industry. The port also continues to handle a wide range of other cargoes, whilst retaining strong links to the fishing and food industries.
ABP Humber Director, Simon Bird, said: ‘This is a fantastic development for the Port of Grimsby and we’re happy to be working with Britcon to drive this project forward. We look forward to being able to offer an extra 8.5 acres to our automotive customers in this new facility at Grimsby.’
Britcon maintains a long-standing working relationship with ABP with a 25-year history in assisting with its construction requirements. Last year it completed a new £2.1 million ‘bulk store’ at ABP’s busy port in King’s Lynn and also its new £5 million Marine Control Centre in Grimsby. It has previously delivered a £2 million design and build project for a new bulk store, process plant and storage facility known as IAWS, as well as the 8500 sqm, £2 million ‘Forest Projects Terminal at Immingham plus also have recently commenced working on the new multi-million-pound Immingham Container Terminal (ICT) project.
John Whitmore, Director at Britcon said: “ABP remains one of our largest clients for which we have become a reliable partner in supporting major construction projects across its ports. Indeed, some of our senior team have worked on projects for ABP for over 25 years! We are delighted to secure this exclusive contract which is testament to our sustained approach to delivering value engineering, every time. Our long-term relationship has been built on trust and experience and we look forward to at least another 25 years supporting the group.”
Britcon has extensive experience in the ports industry with other key clients including DFDS Seaways, CRO Ports, PD Ports, RMS, Hutchinson Ports and VAG Ports.
Kodiak achieved this milestone just 16 months after the company was formed. Kodiak also announced it will be supporting its growing testing and freight operations from a new facility in North Texas.
Kodiak operates as a true freight carrier, with self-driving trucks operating on "middle mile" highway routes. Since the company's founding in April 2018, Kodiak has grown from an idea to a reality, with a growing fleet of trucks and the launch of freight operations for customers in Texas. The company's rapid progress is a testament to its strong, experienced team, led by its CEO Don Burnette. Don is a leader in the AV industry, with over a decade of experience working in the emerging autonomous vehicle field.
"We could not be more excited to announce our expansion into Texas, with an office in the DFW area," said Don Burnette, CEO and Co-Founder of Kodiak Robotics. "In just over a year, we've gone from founding Kodiak to putting our trucks on the road and hauling freight for customers. Making such rapid progress wouldn't be possible without our strong, experienced team, who've been working with autonomous vehicles since the early days of the industry. As industry veterans, we've seen where self-driving technology has fallen short, and have a clear vision for how to make it work and work safely."
Kodiak's self-driving trucks are poised to revolutionise the freight industry as its technology will make highways safer while reducing the cost of carrying freight and, for longer routes, the time it takes to move goods. Kodiak's expansion will further Texas' leadership in logistics and transportation.
"We are thrilled by the reception we've received from all Texans," added Paz Eshel, COO and Co-Founder of Kodiak Robotics. "From Governor Abbott to the Department of Public Safety to the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), we've received nothing but support. We look forward to continuing to build meaningful community partnerships in Texas, and helping to make sure that Texas is the home of autonomous trucking."
"We're pleased to welcome Kodiak to Dallas-Fort Worth," said Thomas Bamonte, Senior Program Manager, Automated Vehicles, for the North Central Texas Council of Governments. "As a region adding more than 1 million new residents each decade, it is important to develop a comprehensive strategy for the safe and reliable movement of people and goods. Our policy officials on the Regional Transportation Council have been very forward-thinking in their recognition of technology as part of the answer, which is positioning our region as a leader in the automated vehicle industry."
"We are excited that Kodiak Robotics will have a major presence in Texas," said Dr. Christopher Poe, TTI assistant agency director and connected automated transportation strategy lead. "Texas is a leader in the testing and implementation of connected and automated vehicles, and Kodiak's willingness to partner with academia and public agencies to ensure safe deployment of new technology will add significant value to our transportation system."
A combination of new automated systems and technical enhancements is helping Rhenus consolidate its position within the industry.
Customers now expect highly competitive prices alongside the latest technologies – something that all logistics providers must strive to deliver. Rhenus continues to be proactive surrounding Industry 4.0 and implementing technological enhancements through warehouses and transport. The most recent is an investment in its Rade warehouse in Hamburg, Germany, where it has rolled out the latest Bluetooth, wireless and IoT technologies. In addition, Rhenus is currently investing in the development of its own bespoke transport management system (ROCS), due to be rolled out across its UK hubs in the coming months.
Rhenus UK Air & Ocean commercial manager, Jonathan Rayton, commented: “Air & Ocean is experiencing an unprecedented period of change – one in which automated systems and customer service are becoming ever more important. Although customer demand is a key factor driving this change, the entry of smaller, more ‘disruptive’ companies into the marketplace is also contributing to a significant shift in Air & Ocean.”
“The automated system at Rade is just one of many new technological advancements for Rhenus. Indeed, the proactive nature of the company is allowing us to build an excellent portfolio of solutions across Air & Ocean, Road, Warehousing, Contract Logistics and Home Delivery. It’s certainly an exciting time for both the company and industry.”
Rayton continued, “Rhenus Logistics differentiates itself by providing a dedicated team of talented professionals alongside its technological offering. Among the constant flow of new technologies, customers’ desire to liaise with a person instead of a machine remains constant. Whether it be trust, dealing with customer apprehensions or explaining complex systems, person to person interactions matter.”
The state-of-the-art facility will employ more than 800 hourly and salaried employees.
GM now employs more than 9,500 people in Genesee County, including the Grand Blanc headquarters of the company’s Customer Care and Aftersales business and the Flint manufacturing complex.
“This new facility in Burton will help us continue to deliver the industry’s best possible sales, service and ownership experience,” said Barry Engle, GM executive vice president and president, the Americas. “Strategic investments in our core business, and the strong US economy, are creating opportunities for GM and its employees all over the country, and especially here in Michigan.”
All of the positions in Burton support GM’s CCA business — the team responsible for supporting the service and repair needs of millions of GM vehicle owners as well as owners of competitive makes around the world.
The 1.1 million-square-foot plant, located on 141 acres on Davison Road, is triple the size of the facility in Burton that it is replacing. The increased capacity allows for greater efficiency and output as employees unitise and package as many as 120 million service parts a year.
“GM has the highest owner loyalty of any manufacturer, and a big part of that equation is getting high-quality parts into the hands of trained service technicians when and where they need them,” said Tim Turvey, GM global vice president, Customer Care and Aftersales. “That’s why this particular facility is so vital. Great service keeps our customers coming back year after year.”
GM internal studies show that service lane loyalty is directly correlated with purchase loyalty — two areas where GM and its brands excel.
According to IHS Markit, a leading source of global automotive industry information, analysis and insight, GM has earned the highest customer loyalty among all automakers selling in the United States for four consecutive years.
GM’s Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands all consistently score at or near the top of J.D. Power’s annual Customer Service Index Study, which measures satisfaction with service at a franchised dealer or independent service facility for maintenance or repair work among owners and lessees of 1- to 3-year-old vehicles.
“We have had tremendous support from the City of Burton, including Mayor Paula Zelenko and the city council, UAW Local 651, the project management team at NorthPoint Development and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to take this facility from concept to reality,” Engle added. “We are very grateful for this opportunity to expand, grow and contribute to the Burton community.”
The new Burton facility at a glance
The parts packaged and distributed from Burton are used to maintain every Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicle sold in the United States, as well as hundreds of competitive vehicles.
GM and its general contractor NorthPoint Development broke ground on the new site in June 2018, and GM shipped its first outbound delivery in June 2019.
An average of 100 inbound deliveries and 55 outbound deliveries are expected each day.
The facility has 84 shipping and receiving docks, up from 35 at the previous site.
