Summary:
A Dutch transport company is involved in less-than-truckload, full-truckload and network distribution of cargo. In order to operate more sustainably, the company is looking for new ideas, methods and techniques to secure the cargo in the cages, without using plastic or other environmentally harmful materials. Cooperation with partners is sought and a research or a technical cooperation agreement is foreseen. This request refers to an innovation challenge published on an open platform.
Description:
A Dutch based company is specialized in the fine-meshed distribution of general cargo and pallets via route transport and / or network distribution (e.g. less-than-truckload (LTL), full-truckload (FTL)). In addition to distribution, the company also provides special transports, dedicated transport, container transport and storage & warehouse activities. The company is affiliated with one of the largest partnerships of independent transport and distribution companies in the Netherlands and Belgium. This partnership takes care of 19,000 shipments throughout the Benelux every day.
All parcels and general cargo is sorted out in cages (1,20 x 1,00 x 2,40 meters). When the cage is full, it is wrapped by a seal machine. This takes about 2 minutes per cage. To secure the loose loaded cages, a lot of plastic is used for sealing: in the entire network about 20.000 kg per year. The wrapped cages are loaded in line haul trucks to the partners. The transit time to the partner varies between 30 up to 180 minutes. By arriving at the partner depot, the plastic is removed and thrown away.
Today, the use of plastic is far from sustainable and desired. In order to operate more sustainable as a company, innovative processes and materials are highly requested. The final objective is to apply these sustainable solutions in the whole transport and loading systematics of the cargo.
Therefore, the company is looking for new ideas, methods and techniques to secure the cargo in cages, without using plastic or other for the environment harmful materials. Solutions could be low tech with usage of current materials or high tech with full out of the box solutions.
The company is looking for creative but realistic solutions that can be applied in a pilot. Cooperation with skilled partners is sought and collaboration would be in the frame of a research or a technical cooperation agreement.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This technology request is part of an innovation challenge and is published on an open innovation platform from March the 30th until May the 11th 2020. If an organisation does express interest in cooperation with this firm before closing date, it will be guided towards this open innovation platform on which one can get in touch with the company experts. Mind that posts on this platform are not confidential. Beside open discussions on the platform, sharing of confidential information will be made possible on demand. After that, the firm will select the SME's with whom they would like to cooperate in the development of a solution. Once the challenge is closed, EOI's for this technology request will be treated in the traditional way.
Type (e.g. company, R&D institution…), field of industry and Role of Partner Sought:
SME’s, academic institutions and other innovators with expertise in the field of transport and distribution of cargo and especially for new sustainable ideas, methods and techniques to secure the cargo in cages, without using plastic are sought.
Partners are invited to contribute to a creative open innovation process, design thinking and further technical development.
Type of partner collaboration:
The Dutch company wants to work together as equal partners, IPR conditions to be determined. This could be in the frame of a research or technical cooperation agreement or any other form that fits the purpose of this challenge.
Technical Specification or Expertise Sought:
The company is looking for innovative sustainable expertise in the field of transport and distribution of cargo and especially for new ideas, methods and techniques to secure the cargo in cages, without using plastic. Solutions could be low tech with usage of current materials or high tech with full out of the box solutions. Creative but realistic solutions that can be applied in a pilot are welcome. The following disciplines are suggested:
• Material technology
• Warehousing technology
• Robotics
• Advanced logistics technology
The company is willing to cooperate with a co-creator or partner in the frame of a research or technical cooperation agreement or any other form that fits the purpose of this challenge.
Stage of Development:
Available for demonstration
Comments Regarding Stage of Development:
The company is open to many stages of development, but focus is on implementation within 3 years or less.
IPR Status:
Other
Comments Regarding IPR Status:
Since this technology request is an innovation challenge and is published on an open innovation platform all types of IPR Status can be considered.
External code:
TRNL20200406001
