Industry News - Page 443 of 734 | Supply Post - Canada's #1 Heavy Construction Equipment & Commercial Truck Newspaper

Precious Cargo: Strengthening The Vaccine Cold Chain From Start To Finish

The development of a COVID-19 vaccine is in high gear, with the global pharmaceutical industry racing to deliver a viable medicine to slow the spread of the virus. Getting this vaccine to billions of people all over the world will create never-before logistical challenges.
Earlier this year, Trane Technologies’ leadership team created a dedicated global task force to help strengthen the cold chain in anticipation for a COVID vaccine. The team has been engaging pharmaceutical and transport companies, policymakers, regulators and other industry partners to discuss the complexities and potential challenges of the global distribution of a temperature-sensitive vaccine.
“The global community has been working tirelessly to help stop the spread of COVID, and we know that Thermo King® can contribute in a meaningful way,” shares Francesco Incalza, president of Thermo King Europe, Middle East and Africa. “While there remain many unknowns, our team is focused on identifying potential risks in the cold chain and proactively finding solutions so that our customers can quickly and safely get the vaccine into the hands of our healthcare professionals.”

Complex Logistics With Precious Cargo
One of the key complexities in the pharmaceutical supply chain is the need for refrigeration technology. Vaccines require precise temperature control to ensure the product remains stable. Many of the COVID-19 vaccine candidates need to be stored and transported at sub-zero temperatures. And this temperature control needs to be maintained for the entire journey, including during storage and transport from the point of manufacture to the point of use. This is known as the cold chain.
If there is a break in the cold chain, and a temperature-sensitive product falls outside of the required temperature range, the result could be the loss of an entire load of high-value, life-saving medicine. That is why maintaining the cold chain and protecting these products is so important.
“Temperature control will play a critical role in safeguarding a vaccine,” Karin De Bondt, president of Thermo King America confirms. “Given the urgent, global need for a COVID-19 vaccine, we need to be prepared to meet obstacles in the cold chain head-on, and ensure that the medication is protected from the moment it leaves the manufacturer to when it arrives to the patient.”
Safeguarding against breakdowns in the cold chain can quickly become a very complex operation from a logistics standpoint. And this is made even more complex when you consider the circumstances around a COVID-19 vaccine. Imagine devising a logistics plan to deliver as many as 15 billion vaccines globally as fast as possible, not knowing exactly where the manufacturing points will be, the volume of doses, or how cold the vaccine will need to be kept.
One vaccine in development will require a constant temperature of -70 degrees Celsius (-94 Fahrenheit) - and that temperature will need to be maintained while the vaccine travels thousands of miles between manufacturing locations, trucks, planes and consolidation facilities, and then on to the final point of administration to a patient at a hospital or clinic. This must all happen without delay, across multiple touchpoints and with many parties coordinating handoffs.

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Feb 2, 2021 - 5 years ago

Skilled Workers Needed In Manitoba’s Agriculture Sector

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are collaborating with the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative to address the availability of skilled workers in Manitoba’s agriculture sector, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development Minister Blaine Pedersen announced recently.
“Intelligent technologies and agri-food data can open new opportunities for our industry and grow Canada’s position as a global leader in agriculture,” said Bibeau. “We must continue to find ways to use technology to sustainably feed a growing population. These investments are helping EMILI lead the charge on the future of innovation in agriculture, driving major advances in productivity and sustainability.”
“Adopting new and innovative strategies is the key to ensuring industry meets growth targets,” said Pedersen. “Partnerships between government, industry and academia will ensure curriculums provide training relevant to future workforce needs to allow Manitoba’s agriculture industry to continue to thrive.”
Governments are investing $630,000 from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to support EMILI, the Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative. The funding will assist EMILI in establishing a Manitoba industry, academia partnership to align education and training with industry demanded skills including digital asset mapping, and creating work integrated learning opportunities for students at all levels.
“EMILI is grateful for the support of the governments of Canada and Manitoba through this investment in the digital agriculture industry. Digital agriculture in Manitoba is growing and will continue to be a driving force of our economy,” said Ray Bouchard, board chair, EMILI Manitoba. “EMILI’s leadership of the Manitoba Digital Agriculture Table and the technology tools being developed will empower our people and our businesses with the resources needed to seize this important digital agriculture opportunity.”
EMILI was created to prepare and empower the Manitoba economy to leverage digital disruption for success with a specific focus on digital agriculture. EMILI works with industry and academia to accelerate the adoption of intelligent technologies and to provide people with the skills and training required in a digital economy.
The five-year, $3-billion Canadian Agricultural Partnership includes $2 billion for cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories and $1 billion for federal programs and services. For more information, visit www.canada.ca/Agri-Partnership.
For more information on EMILI, visit https://emilicanada.com/about-emili/.

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Feb 1, 2021 - 5 years ago

Taking Away Asphalt Silo Gate Pains With FLO Automatic Greasing Systems

Mississauga-based greasing solutions expert, FLO Components Ltd. is currently working with several Asphalt companies to install Automatic Lubrication Systems (ALS) on their asphalt storage silos.
FLO’s Marketing Specialist, Gabriel Lopez explains; “At an asphalt plant, a truck drives underneath the silo and the asphalt is dropped into the truck body, which is then trucked to where the Paving crew is laying down the asphalt. The silo has a door or “gate” at the bottom, which has to be able to open and close repeatedly as the Plant fills the trucks. The hinges or bearings on these gates must be properly lubricated, because a stuck gate can be catastrophic.”
“If it gets stuck closed, you have a truck underneath that cannot get material to transport over to the asphalt crew and everything stops. Even worse, if the gate gets stuck open, it will empty the entire silo of very hot asphalt into the truck (overfilling), onto the ground and typically even onto the scale. The truck has likely pulled away. Hopefully nobody has gotten hurt, but you are left with a lot of clean-up and potential environmental and safety issues, and again, all paving stops.”
There are serious costs and major downtime associated with a stuck silo gate. “If it’s happened to you, you’ve felt that pain.” According to Lopez, the costs incurred if a piece of paving equipment breaks down on the job and forcing the crew laying down the asphalt to stop production, is over $2,500 per minute. A stuck gate would similarly shut down that lay down crew, incurring the same costs or more if repairs and clean-up are required.
Currently on many silos, the points needing grease are “remote-lined” out to the side of the gate according to Lopez. However, “It’s not just a case of walking up to a grease point and hooking up a grease gun”, he says. Trucks have to be able to get underneath the gate, so these points are typically 20’ in the air - a man lift, ladder or something else to elevate the worker is required to grease those points. This leads to potential safety risks, use of harnesses and other safety measures and rental of man lifts. Furthermore, greasing through remote lines can’t be done during production, so it’s either before or after, potentially causing worker overtime.
FLO’s solution is to use an Automatic Lubrication System to lubricate the four main points of the gate. The ALS is a self-contained grease lubrication system that typically gets mounted on one of the support structures or I-beams of the silo. It is a fully monitored system, with a grease reservoir and 120V pump at ground level, a single supply line running up to a distribution valve mounted underneath the silo, and heat-resistant feed lines running to the bearing points. Operation of the ALS is tied into the start of production and is programmed to run on timed (adjustable) intervals. The pump comes on periodically and a small measured amount of grease is sent into the individual bearing points, while the silo is operating. This is one of the biggest advantages of ALS, Lopez says; “Because the bearing is turning when it receives the grease, you get much better coverage and far better protection”.
“The Silo Lube System helps eliminate the stuck gate scenario and all the drawbacks of using remote grease lines, and additionally gives you all the standard benefits of an Autoluber – less downtime, increased productivity, improved worker and environmental safety, etc. It’s just another way FLO, as the saying here goes, is ‘helping to take away our customers’ pain’.”

About FLO Components
FLO Components Ltd. is an automatic greasing systems specialist and the leading supplier of "Total Lube Solutions" to major manufacturers and truck and heavy equipment users in Ontario and Manitoba. Established in 1977, FLO uses application expertise and qualified service technicians to provide cost effective Solutions for all types of lubrication and fluid handling applications and help clients reduce unscheduled downtime and improve productivity. FLO Components' Solutions include: systems design, auto lube systems, hammer lube systems, general lube equipment, specialty lubes, onsite service & installation, lube audits, lubrication training, scheduled on-site maintenance programs, and a factory authorized warranty & service facility. For more information on FLO’s products or services, please contact the Customer Service Department TOLL free at (800) 668-5458, e-mail [email protected] or visit online at www.flocomponents.com.
Source: FLO Components

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Jan 29, 2021 - 5 years ago

New Dealership Names Reflect Powerful Partnerships With Dawson Group Companies

Since the beginning of 2019, the Dawson Group has been working hard to bring their family of companies together under one banner. Our International and Idealease dealerships are the last two in the family to make this transition.
Effective immediately, IRL International Truck Centres and IRL Idealease will operate as Dawson International Truck Centres and Dawson Idealease.
The new names reflect the company’s membership as part of the Dawson Group, which is a group of interconnected companies with a common vision and purpose — driving prosperity by safely connecting our communities.
The rebranding of the companies was born out of a desire to unify as a group and to reflect the Dawson Group motto, “We’re better together.”
“We are all excited to be under the same name,” said Charlie Beck, Vice President of Operations for Dawson International Truck Centres and Dawson Idealease. “It’s not just a new name and logo to us, it’s the idea of unity and operating as one.”
“Each company and individual that works for the Dawson Group has their own area of expertise and the collaboration has kept this group thriving over the past 98 years.”
“This unity allows us to further diversify and educate. A great example for Dawson International Truck Centres, would be becoming a national safety mark approved, body installer. This service allows us to better support our road maintenance company with their large volume of plow and dump truck purchases, while giving us the opportunity to provide even greater value and support to our customers.”
“Being part of a group this size, also gives us greater buying power, allowing us to be more competitive. The more successful we are, the better partners we become to our customers and contributing more and more to their success.”
Other companies in the Dawson Group include Dawson Road Maintenance, Dawson Construction and Dawson Civil. Learn more about the Dawson Group at www.dawsongroup.ca.
Source: Dawson Group

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Jan 28, 2021 - 5 years ago

Partnerships BC To Operate As Infrastructure BC With Expanded Mandate

Partnerships BC is announcing today that the organization will now operate as Infrastructure BC, which better reflects the services provided by the Crown Corporation.
“As we build and recover from COVID-19, our government is committed to getting British Columbians back to work with good paying jobs in the construction industry,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance. “In Budget 2020, we committed $22.9 billion in infrastructure spending, the highest capital spending in B.C.’s history. Infrastructure is a big part of our plan to keep B.C. moving ahead – building schools, hospitals, roads and more affordable housing that our growing province needs – and into recovery.”
“Infrastructure BC is the provincial centre of expertise supporting the planning, procurement and implementation of public infrastructure projects,” explains Dana Hayden, Infrastructure BC Board Chair.
Operating since 2002, working with owners, the crown agency has led 61 completed project procurements throughout Canada with a value of $21.4 billion.
Through Infrastructure BC, government will begin to provide information about approved projects, as well as those under consideration – including those in early stages of planning that may not receive government approval. This will come in the form of an information brochure updated each year in spring and fall, which will allow private sector firms to better plan and compete on projects.
“The construction environment of today requires a broad spectrum of procurement options. Infrastructure BC will assist government and project owners in selecting the best delivery model to build complex projects such as highways, bridges, schools, and hospitals,” states Mark Liedemann, Infrastructure BC President and CEO.

Quick Facts:

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Jan 27, 2021 - 5 years ago

Prepare For Winter

Preparing your truck fleet for winter — Establish procedures and practices for winter-specific trip inspections.
Photo credit: WorkSafe BC / Khalid Hawe.

Fleet operators and owners have an important role to play in keeping their drivers safe in winter conditions.
By Marnie Douglas, WorkSafe BC

Driving on B.C.’s highways during the winter months can be dangerous, particularly if you drive for work and need to be out on the road, rain or shine.
But staying safe in winter conditions is more than just checking the forecast and driving conditions — fleet operators and owners must ensure their vehicles are winterized and that drivers are prepared and educated in what to do in winter conditions.
“Our message is prepare for winter,” says Mark Ordeman, manager, OHS Consultation and Education Services, WorkSafeBC. “We want employers to be prepared for changing conditions and winter driving starting in October. It’s so important to be having those conversations now with your drivers.”
The number of work-related crashes in B.C. climbs sharply in winter months — from 482 on average in May, to 670 in November. B.C.’s mountain ranges, changing elevations, and unpredictable weather make it one of the most demanding winter driving environments in North America. For more than half the year — from early October to late April — weather
conditions can change from summer-like to winter over the course of several hours, adds Ordeman.

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Jan 26, 2021 - 5 years ago

Industry News - Page 443 of 734

Precious Cargo: Strengthening The Vaccine Cold Chain From Start To Finish

Skilled Workers Needed In Manitoba’s Agriculture Sector

Taking Away Asphalt Silo Gate Pains With FLO Automatic Greasing Systems

New Dealership Names Reflect Powerful Partnerships With Dawson Group Companies

Partnerships BC To Operate As Infrastructure BC With Expanded Mandate

Prepare For Winter

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