FlexXray announces the opening of a cutting-edge, FDA-registered inspection facility located in Aurora, Illinois. Demand for FlexXray’s services in the Midwest has rapidly increased and grown beyond the capacity of FlexXray’s Elmhurst, Illinois, location which closed on May 18, 2020 when this new Aurora facility opened.

To address concerns about the introduction and spread of COVID-19 at customer workplaces, Hyster-Yale Group is introducing a virus safety initiative for lift trucks.  Developed in partnership with its nationwide dealer network for the company’s Yale and Hyster lift truck brands, HY-Shield Clean is a lift truck sanitization program designed to help keep facility personnel safe during all aspects of forklift activity, including daily operation and service calls.

EnerSys will once again unite with the Industrial Truck Association (ITA) to support the annual National Forklift Safety Day. Now in its seventh year, this special day will be held on June 9, 2020, and serves as an important reminder in keeping the safety of forklift operators top of mind. This year’s event carries even greater importance due to the global crisis resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, as supply chain operations are in overdrive to ensure the flow of products and resources in all industries across the nation.  

¡Yo Quiero! Brands has opened a new 45,000-square-foot distribution facility in Rhome, Texas (near Dallas) as well as a new facility in Guanajuato, Mexico (near León). The brand, which focuses on small-batch guacamole, salsa and queso products, is moving further into in the avocado and high-pressure processing (HPP) industries. 

Sealand’s smart containers, called "Captain Peter", optimize remote container management. Shippers receive status updates and alerts if the reefer container’s condition deviates from the required settings, like temperature, humidity, CO2 levels and the power status of the container, through sensors in the container. This advanced technology solution helps ensure perishable products arrive at their destination in optimal condition to maximize market value and shelf life.

Varcode, the maker of patented digital, time and temperature sensitive supply chain solutions, announced today it closed its most recent round of funding with a syndicate of investors. The infusion of capital gives Varcode the ability to expand and fully commercialize its solution amidst growing demand and additional use cases.

Amid a devastating pandemic that’s crippling economies worldwide, here’s a Port of Oakland (Port) bright spot: meat exports to Asia. the Port said today its meat exports jumped 26% in the first quarter of 2020 over Q1 2019. The Port said it now controls 42% of the market for meat exports leaving U.S. West Coast ports. Its nearest competitor, the Port of Long Beach, has 31% of the market.

Lineage Logistics (Lineage), the world’s largest provider of temperature-controlled logistics solutions, announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Henningsen Cold Storage Co. (Henningsen). Lineage was founded by and continues to be managed by Bay Grove. The strategic acquisition adds to the company’s expansive U.S. facility network and bolsters its presence in the Pacific Northwest, with the addition of 14 facilities across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Oklahoma. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) released first-quarter data showing the general major cost structure of operating refrigerated warehouses. The cost of labor was once again the largest share of expenses, followed by property rent/lease/mortgage costs.

The closures of restaurants, hotels, and schools have left growers with heaps of fresh produce without a destination. With crops often grown exclusively for the foodservice industry, growers who produce crops with a large percentage of production destined for this vital market segment are faced with incredible challenges amidst COVID-19 closures.