Outsourced Logistics

FESCO announced today that Mike Evans, a 20-year veteran of the company, has been named the new president of FESCO Agencies North America, effective immediately. Aspi Rostami, who recently held the position of president, will stay on as an advisor.

Mr. Evans most recently worked as director, sales and marketing. In his new role, Mr. Evans is responsible for the overall direction of FESCO Agencies North America. He oversees management of the company’s liner, intermodal, logistics and container operations servicing the regions of North America and the Far East, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Korea, China, Australia, the Baltic region and the Black Sea. As director, sales and marketing, Mr. Evans managed the commercial activity, as well as services operating between North America, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, and the Russian Far East.

Mr. Evans worked for Crowley Maritime Corporation for 10 years based in Seattle and was responsible for the sales and marketing of its operations from the United States and Canada. He also held the position of sales manager overseeing the sales and marketing of Crowley’s Alaska rail barge operation for oil and gas, automobile, heavy machinery and consumer goods shippers.

His experience with FESCO began in 1980 working for Morflot Freightliners, as an agent for FESCO, responsible for operations in the Far East and Southeast Asia and developing new accounts in the Pacific Northwest.

“Mike Evans brings in-depth industry knowledge and experience to the position, especially as it relates to doing business to and from Russia and all phases of our business,” said Aspi Rostami, FESCO Agencies North America’s advisor and former president. “He has been a valuable asset to our customers for the past 20 years and his history working with FESCO makes him the perfect candidate to carry the responsibility for FESCO Agencies North America.”

Evans has been a board member of the Foundation for Russian American Economic Cooperation since 2007.

About Agencies North America:

FESCO Agencies North America is a division of FESCO, a multimodal transport holding company and one of the largest marine carriers and container providers in Russia. FESCO operates 47 vessels and 4 icebreakers and is Russia’s largest container, dry bulk and roll on/roll off operator. FESCO is the second largest privately-held railcar operator in the Russian Federation and is further expanding into terminal and port ownership in Western and Far East Russia and the Black Sea.

FESCO Agencies North America carries containerized, breakbulk, project, roll on/roll off and flatrack cargoes for shipment worldwide. FESCO Agencies oversees the vessels and services operating between North America and Russia, while FESCO Logistics provides logistical support needs for its clients between North America and Russia, Asia and CIS countries.

SANTA FE SPRINGS, California – Weber Distribution, a leading third party logistics and supply chain management provider, announced today that it has been awarded a two-year contract renewal from Buxton, a manufacturer of high-quality personal leather goods for more than 102 years, to handle the storage, pick & pack and distribution of their product line to retailers throughout the United States such as JCPenney and Nordstrom.

Under the renewed contract, Weber performs a wide variety of 3PL-related services for Buxton, including order processing, label generation, inventory control, and routing guide compliance, as well as value-added services such as re-work with ticketing and sub-styling. Buxton’s product line includes a variety of brands, including Buxton, Dopp, Wenger, and several private label programs for major retailers. Their wallets, travel kits, belts, business accessories, computer cases, totes, and other personal accessories are all manufactured in China and are stored and distributed at Weber’s 303,000 square foot facility in Fontana, California.

According to Kendall Walsh, Buxton’s supply chain director, the Company renewed its contract with Weber because of past experience. “We are confident that Weber can do the job efficiently and they were very competitive as far as price is concerned,” said Walsh. “Their communication is phenomenal and if any issues should arise, everything is documented and addressed at every level of the company from the top down. We can get a hold of someone at any point in time and they always follow through. We feel like we have a real partnership with Weber as opposed to being a customer.”

From Weber’s Fontana facility, Buxton’s products are stored and orders are routed and picked by case or pallet for retailers such as Samsonite stores, Gottschalks, Sears, JCPenney, Fred Meyer, and Nordstrom, to name a few. Buxton has more than 4000 unique SKU’s and through Weber’s facilities they ship roughly 3500 to 6000 orders per week containing 23,000 to 42,000 cases.

Buxton originally signed a contract with Weber in 2008 because their East Coast-based pick & pack distribution no longer fit their business model. “This account is important for Weber as we strengthen our position in the retail market,” said Bill Butler, Weber’s CEO. “We perform special requirements for Buxton that support all of the major retailers, as well as second tier stores. Our project fulfillment services provide Buxton with a true ‘one stop shop’ to handle all their needs as they continue to expand and grow their business.”

Weber manages Buxton’s retail compliance for all of the major retailers’ specific routing, shipping and labeling requirements. At the heart of the compliance program is a custom-designed internal web site that allows all of Weber’s warehouses to quickly reference every major retailers’ most recent routing and shipping requirements, without having to individually review and interpret routing and vendor guides.

About Buxton

For more than 102 years, Buxton has manufactured innovative and high-quality personal leather goods. Despite its long tradition of innovation, much has changed since 1898 when Dana Buxton and his wife, Julia, began selling their handmade leather fits and novelties to tourist and bicyclist traveling on the scenic Mohawk Trail in Western Massachusetts. Buxton is located in Chicopee, Massachusetts where it began and it is now a global entity with foreign manufacturing operations and licensees in Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa.

About Weber Distribution

Weber Distribution has evolved into a nationwide provider of logistics solutions. Weber’s expertise includes non-asset freight management, asset-based LTL and TL services, including temperature-controlled, dedicated and shared warehousing, distribution, cross-docking/pool distribution, transloading, network optimization modeling and analysis, retail compliance, order fulfillment, material handling, supply chain management, real estate development, and personnel staffing.

Weber specializes in providing its clients with unique logistics solutions primarily to these vertical markets:

 Import

 Retail

 Food & Beverage

 Consumer Packaged Goods

 Chemical/Specialty Products

 Paper

Weber serves many well-known and respected companies such as Walmart, Target, Safeway, General Mills, Hershey, Nestlé, Applica Consumer Products, California Innovations, Scholastic Books, and PPG Industries. As a result of its on-going innovation, experience and dedication, Weber has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including:

 100 Great Supply Chain Partners

 Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 3PLs

 Logistics Management’s Top 50 3PLs

 The Los Angeles Business Journal’s Top 100 Privately-Held Companies

 Food Logistics Magazine’s Top 70 3PLs

 Food Logistics Magazine’s FL100 listing of the top technology solution and service providers to the food industry.

Prairie Farms Places Five Added Orders in Nod of Approval to Hercules Zero Carbon Footprint Transport Featuring The “Hercules Hybrid Cold Plate Refrigeration System”

(Prairie Farms Dairy’s New Hercules Hybrid Cold Plate Refrigeration System Vehicle- Photo)

HENDERSON, Ky., June 1  - Hercules Manufacturing Co. has received five additional orders following a key presentation and inspection of the first uniquely green hybrid vehicle to Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. over the weekend.  From the chassis to the refrigerated body, this green Proof of Concept (POC) vehicle is an engineering first and is set to revolutionize the refrigeration transport industry by preserving the environment.

“This makes a stronger statement to their environmental interests as well as their approval of Hercules in this first of its kind green hybrid transport for the refrigerated truck industry,” said Joe Banna, Hercules President Emeritus referring to dairy industry leader, Prairie Farms with distribution throughout Mid-America and the South.

With an $80,000 investment in R&D and using Eaton Corporation’s hybrid diesel/electric technology, Hercules has developed the first green coldplate refrigeration hybrid unit of its kind.

“It is a green solution in terms of the environment, but also in terms of the additional money saved to the companies who employ it.” said Hercules owner and CEO, Jeffrey Caddick.

“We chose Hercules because they are at the forefront of this groundbreaking technology and they have an extended association with Eaton Corporation,” said Jay Naples, Corporate Fleet Manager of Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. “Being the first to try this new green hybrid design, we hope to set a precedent in our industry and establish environmentally friendly transportation.”

As an all electric, green and zero-carbon footprint refrigeration system, the green Hercules body combines heating and cooling capabilities with over-the-road power generation in a Direct-Store-Delivery “DSD” vehicle. This unique refrigeration design eliminates the complexity of onboard generators and/or inverters with a seamless power management module that uses the hybrid chassis battery system during the delivery day and shore power at night.  Ideal for designated “Non-Attainment” areas - benefits include reduced emissions, automatic hot gas defrost, fuel usage reduction, better serviceability, greater ROI, noise reduction and increased driver convenience. Critical features for addressing today’s environment and green sustainability goals.

Through reengineering and newly developed electronic controls, the green truck can use the electricity generated by the hybrid motor to recharge its cold plate refrigeration system on the road enabling companies to run longer routes since the weight of the refrigeration system has been reduced to improve fuel mileage. It also means the green hybrid truck can go without needing to return and repower the cold plates in its refrigeration system, which lose their cool gradually.

“Delivery costs are one of our highest expenses,” Prairie Farms CEO Ed Mullins noted during the weekend key presentation.

Prairie Farms will put the green hybrid vehicle on the road immediately where it will be wirelessly monitored 24/7 by Hercules to track the performance of the POC vehicle.   The additional five vehicles ordered will go into production upon receipt of hybrid chassis.

“I am hopeful this new engineering breakthrough will return our 108-year-old company full circle to 1930, when Hercules was the first to create a mechanically refrigerated truck body,” added Caddick.

About Prairie Farms

Headquartered in Carlinville, IL, farmer-owned Prairie Farms Dairy is a leader in the dairy industry for over 70 years. Over 700 farms strong, Prairie Farms’ farm families are represented in their full line of retail and foodservice dairy products. Prairie Farms network of local manufacturing plants and branch offices enables highly efficient, dairy fresh distribution throughout Mid-America and the South.  To learn more about the business of Prairie Farms, Inc., visit: prairiefarmsdairy.com

About Hercules Manufacturing Co.

Since 1902, Hercules Manufacturing Co., has been providing custom designs and leading advancements to the transportation industry. Headquartered in Henderson, Kentucky, Hercules develops and produces custom built truck bodies, providing solutions to meet customer specific needs,   Having built the first mechanically refrigerated truck body in 1930, Hercules is presently a leader in cold plate refrigeration systems and the industry leader in the creation of “Hercules Hybrid Cold Plate Refrigeration System”.  For more information visit herculesvanbodies.com

Contacts:

Jay Naples

Corporate Fleet Manager

Prairie Farms Dairy Inc

217-854-2547

jnaples@prairiefarms.com

Chip Honse

Sales Manager

Hercules Manufacturing Co.

270-826-9501

chonse@herculesvanbodies.com

SOURCE Hercules Manufacturing Co.

Excerpt from ChemLogix Chemical Transportation and Logistics Blog http://blog.chemlogix.com/ Written by Stephen Hamilton

Intermodal transportation is a hot topic these days as chemical shippers look for ways to reduce costs, carbon footprint and freight safety concerns. When considering the merits of intermodal transportation, chemical shippers should also consider the benefits offered by ISO tank containers associated with this mode of transportation. While Over The Road (OTR) tank trucks still dominate the roadways in transporting liquid chemical freight, ISO tank containers are becoming more widely used as shippers convert to intermodal to transport freight through a combination of truck, rail and sea.

The following are major benefits that ISO tank containers offer over OTR tank trucks in the transport of freight: 

1. 1. Greener.  The International Tank Container Organisation reported that intermodal tank containers leave a carbon footprint that is almost 50 per cent less than that of an equivalent drummed shipment on certain long-haul routes.  Using intermodal transportation also saves fuel and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 70%, especially on hauls over 150 miles.  This may be a major factor to consider as chemical shippers must find ways to reduce carbon footprint to meet future government mandates. 


2. 2. Safer. On long hauls, OTR tank trucks often must travel through bad weather, causing unsafe driving conditions that lead to accidents and delays.  Vehicles often park at unsecured rest stops and have the potential for mechanical breakdowns. Shipping freight via intermodal using ISO tank containers eliminates these issues.   As containers are marked with a unique BIC code, they can be easily ID’d and tracked.  And even heavy ISO tank containers are unlikely to cause mechanical failure on trains and ships and are safer when in transit.   


3. 3. Cheaper. Using ISO tank containers via intermodal as a mode of transportation instead of OTR can also help save 20 – 30% in transportation costs, depending on distance and volume of freight.   


4. 4. Easy Storage.  While ISO tank containers can easily be stored at the consignee, OTR tank trucks often must be returned to their point of origin, which for long hauls may be thousands of miles away. Delivering an ISO tank via intermodal to a consignee is generally a local delivery. No driver layovers!    


5. 5. Greater Flexibility. If the customer decides at the last minute that they want to delay a freight delivery for a couple of days, tanks can be left at a local storage yard. If the load came via OTR truck, the customer would have to take delivery on the scheduled date. Also, as previously noted, one container can transport the same freight by ship, truck and train as part of a single journey without unloading.  

Written by Stephen Hamilton, ChemLogix, Global www.chemlogix.com

As companies evaluate new ways to reduce freight costs as well as their carbon footprint, alternative transportation mode options should be considered when moving freight long distances. While trucking remains the most dominant mode of shipping product domestically, intermodal freight transport offers opportunities for freight savings and reduced emissions, especially when transporting products over distances of 500 miles or more.

Intermodal shipping is the process wherein multiple modes of transportation partner to provide integrated door-to-door services. For example, trucks are used to deliver goods from a warehouse or manufacturing facility to a train depot and from a train stop to a final customer locale while freight trains are used to transport the cargo the longest distance over high-volume rail corridors. Optimizing the relative strengths and efficiencies of each transport method, intermodal can help reduce cargo handling, damage and loss, enabling freight to be transported more securely and at lower overall costs.

Also, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that for shipments over 1,000 miles, using intermodal transport can cut fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 65%, relative to truck transport alone. A truck transporting 40,000 lbs from Boston to Los Angeles produces approximately 4.35 tons of carbon emissions. The same 40,000 pounds shipped via intermodal rail produces only 1.75 tons of carbon emissions.

Intermodal transportation can, in essence, help reduce a company’s carbon footprint. The EPA estimates that every ton-mile of freight that moves by rail instead of by highway can reduce greenhouse emissions by two-thirds. This is important as companies work to reduce their carbon footprint to comply with environmental regulations and meet their own corporate sustainability goals.

As the volume of inbound cargo, especially from Asia, continues to increase, intermodal offers an alternative to the highways. For shipments across the border, intermodal can help reduce border congestion and pollution, especially when transporting U.S. freight into Mexico. As paperwork can be submitted electronically and approved prior to trains reaching the border, inbound shipments can cross into Mexico without stopping at border crossings, eliminating the time associated with customs and freight clearance. And once a shipment is underway, all movement can be tracked by a third party until it reaches its final destination.

How to Ship Intermodal

As intermodal can be implemented for bulk commodities in tank containers as well as traditional packaged freight in box containers, a variety of goods can be transported using this transportation mode. A chemical company, for example, can deliver product in ISO tanks by truck to a rail terminal, where freight is transferred to railcar and processed for delivery to a final destination. An investigation commissioned by the International Tank Container Organization into the environmental performance of intermodal tank containers reveals that the tank container leaves a carbon footprint that is almost 50% less than that of an equivalent drummed shipment on certain long-haul routes.

Rail carriers in the U.S. and neighboring countries have worked to upgrade equipment, improve shipping schedules, reduce loading and unloading times, and increase the number of lanes to support multiple delivery locations. The U.S. intermodal rail system extends throughout the United States, touching every major port with some coast-to-coast service offerings that are faster than truck. Mexico has a good rail system extending across most of the country, with well-established rail connections at the U.S. border. Canada has two major railroads that run coast-to-coast: the CN and the CP.

Is Intermodal Right For You?

To determine if intermodal transportation is an option for your enterprise, business unit leaders should collaborate with their logisticsgroup or third-party consultants to evaluate supply chain economics and cycle times. Typically, the longer the haul, the more cost-effective intermodal transportation becomes over alternative freight shipment modes. However, modified lead times, resulting in new re-ordering points, may be trade-offs that must be considered with your customer base.

It typically takes eight days to cross the country using intermodal methods. Rail transit time to transport chemical products from Chicago to Mexico City is about four to six days.

The EPA reports that the economic benefits of intermodal ground freight service are maximized over long hauls, where the fuel and cost savings from the rail segment of the trip can be high enough to recoup the extra fuel and handling costs to transport and transfer trailers and containers between trains and trucks.

Typically, shipping liquid bulk products via intermodal can save shippers upwards of 40% vs. over-the-road tank trucks. As an example, a chemical manufacturer in South Carolina that ships bulk chemicals to the Pacific Northwest is reportedly saving approximately $4,000 per load by sending the product in intermodal ISO tanks instead of going in the traditional tank truck over the road for the full passage.

WEBER DISTRIBUTION OPENS A NEW FACILITY IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA

The facility offers expanded service to the confectionary, food, beverage, retail and CPG industries

SANTA FE SPRINGS, California – As part of its growing network, Weber Distribution, a leading third party logistics and supply chain management provider, announced today that it has opened a new facility in Stockton, California, the key hub location for Northern California.

At the facility, Weber is servicing its expanding base of food, confectionary, beverage, CPG and retail customers. The facility provides LTL, truckload, storage and value-added services for all of Northern California and Nevada ranging from Fresno to Redding and San Francisco to Reno.

The Stockton facility was custom-built for Weber and is divided into temperature-controlled and dry storage and offers a variety of services, including order processing, label generation, inventory control, routing guide compliance, and pick & pack. Weber has closed its facility in Lodi, California and has moved its customers to Stockton to service the growing region.

Located between the 99 and the main West Coast Interstate I-5, the City of Stockton is one of California’s fastest growing cities.

Stockton is 60 miles east of the San Francisco Bay Area, 83 miles east of San Francisco, and 45 miles south of Sacramento.

“We are excited about expanding our presence in Northern California to meet our customers’ growing need for warehousing space, distribution and value added services,” said Bill Butler, Weber’s president and CEO. “We are dedicated to delivering the best possible logistics services and this new facility is a clear indication of our commitment to our customers.”

Weber’s Stockton facility is using Zethcon’s WMS, the leading provider of 3PL software, and the latest TMS to track the real-time movement of products and offer real time web visibility.

About Weber Distribution

Weber Distribution has evolved into a nationwide provider of logistics solutions. Weber’s expertise includes non-asset freight management, asset-based LTL and TL services, including temperature-controlled, dedicated and shared warehousing, distribution, cross-docking/pool distribution, transloading, network optimization modeling and analysis, retail compliance, order fulfillment, material handling, supply chain management, real estate development, and personnel staffing.

Weber specializes in providing its clients with unique logistics solutions primarily to these vertical markets:

-Import

-Retail

-Food & Beverage

-Consumer Packaged Goods

-Chemical/Specialty Products

-Paper

Weber serves many well-known and respected companies such as Walmart, Target, Safeway, General Mills, Hershey, Nestlé, Applica Consumer Products, California Innovations, Scholastic Books, and PPG Industries. As a result of its on-going innovation, experience and dedication, Weber has been the recipient of numerous industry awards,

including:

-100 Great Supply Chain Partners

-Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 3PLs

-Logistics Management’s Top 50 3PLs

-The Los Angeles Business Journal’s Top 100 Privately-Held Companies -Food Logistics Magazine’s Top 70 3PLs -Food Logistics Magazine’s FL100 listing of the top technology solution and service providers to the food industry.

Chemical shippers contract 3PLs to gain additional resources, technology and assets unavailable in their own logistic departments to optimize and automate supply chain operations.  More than vendors who merely provide certain contract services, 3PLs should serve as long-term partners in helping customers effectively manage their supply chain processes.  Here are five key benefits that chemical shippers should derive from their business relationship with a 3PL:

1. Ongoing cost reduction/containment strategies

Going beyond the terms of a contract to manage specific freight activities on a monthly or cost-per-transaction basis, 3PLs should proactively present cost management ideas as part of their services.  After becoming familiar with customer operations, 3PLs should be able to identify areas in the supply chain where costs can be contained.  Ideas can range from optimizing weight per shipment through load consolidation, spot bidding on more cost effective carrier lanes or even initiating a freight reduction project to reduce inbound transportation costs.

2.Access to best-in-class transportation management technology

Incorporating the latest transportation management technology to optimize supply chain operations was typically not an option for small- to mid-size shippers who could not afford the upfront investment or ongoing maintenance.  3PLs now offer best-in-class transportation management technology that does not require large investments in hardware, software or even additional personnel.  On demand transportation management systems can be connected to customers’ existing ERP systems in as little as 6 months.  Customers should seek additional capabilities such as online RFQ tools and global order tracking.  Most recently, ChemLogix began offering its customers an iPhone® application as part of its TMS capabilities that gives users mobile access to shipment data on iPhones.

3. Ensure Orderly Review Process

Rather than wait for problems to arise, a 3PL should lead a periodic review of supply chain processes with appropriate personnel to discuss new transportation solutions, specific cost reduction ideas, service levels, and any issues that the client may have with current operations. By reviewing data pertinent to different supply chain elements such as on-time deliveries, costs, customer service issues, etc., the 3PL can discuss which objectives have been met, if there are any problem areas and set new goals for the next operating period. 

4. On-line Visibility to Freight Activity

In addition to automating many processes, a 3PL should give customers online, real-time visibility to supply chain operations including freight, invoices, routing guides, carrier service records and more. With visibility to in-transit data, shippers can determine at any point during the supply chain process if shipments will be delivered on time and when to notify plants and customers of impending deliveries and shipments.  Should shipments be late, automatic email alerts can sent to customer service reps so that they can proactively make arrangements with their own customers.

5. Support in Boardroom Discusses

Getting the funds from executives to implement and/or expand transportation services and systems sometimes takes the assistance of 3PLs who can provide detailed explanations of the long-term benefits of specific supply chain strategies.  Experienced in providing transportation solutions to customers in the same industry but with varying scenarios, 3PLs can readily provide informed answers to the questions posed by executives and give examples of the successes and pitfalls associated with certain actions.  3PLs, essentially, become a part of the logistics team when presenting ideas and updates to the board room.

http://blog.chemlogix.com/

Weber Distribution, a leading third party logistics and supply chain management provider for more than 85 years, announced today that it hired Marc Levin as senior vice president, client solutions, effective immediately.

Levin joins Weber with a strong background in logistics and more than 23 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Ryder Integrated Logistics, Supply Chain Services as vice president of global business development overseeing retail and consumer packaged goods where he was recognized for selling the largest food and beverage warehouse contract.

As senior vice president, client solutions he is responsible for overseeing Weber’s growing customer base in the areas of retail and import, CPG including food and beverage, chemical and paper.

Prior to Ryder, Levin held the position of director global business development for Menlo Worldwide Logistics, based in San Francisco, for nearly 20 years. During his tenure with Menlo, Levin’s sales territory included the U.S market, which expanded globally into Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia. At Menlo, he was recognized for selling warehouses for the company in Toronto, Mexico City, Amsterdam and Sydney.

“Marc is known as a visionary leader in the industry and we are excited to have him on our team,” said Bill Butler, Weber’s president & CEO. “He will be bringing a lot of value to our customers with his in-depth expertise in supply chain management, quality, and implementation and his experience in working with C-level executives.”

Levin is Lean Six Sigma Red Belt certified and is a member of CSCMP and WERC. He holds a degree in accounting and finance and has furthered his education in logistics with extension courses at the University of Wisconsin, Madison; FinListics Solutions and has presented at various supply chain-related conferences.

About Weber Distribution

Weber Distribution has evolved into a nationwide provider of logistics solutions. Weber’s expertise includes non-asset freight management, asset-based LTL and TL services, including temperature-controlled, dedicated and shared warehousing, distribution, cross-docking/pool distribution, transloading, network optimization modeling and analysis, retail compliance, order fulfillment, material handling, supply chain management, real estate development, and personnel staffing.

Weber specializes in providing its clients with unique logistics solutions primarily to these vertical markets:

-Import

-Retail

-Food & Beverage

-Consumer Packaged Goods

-Chemical/Specialty Products

-Paper

Weber serves many well-known and respected companies such as Walmart, Target, Safeway, General Mills, Hershey, Nestlé, Applica Consumer Products, California Innovations, Scholastic Books, and PPG Industries. As a result of its on-going innovation, experience and dedication, Weber has been the recipient of numerous industry awards, including:

-100 Great Supply Chain Partners

-Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 3PLs

-Logistics Management’s Top 50 3PLs

-The Los Angeles Business Journal’s Top 100 Privately-Held Companies

-Food Logistics Magazine’s Top 70 3PLs

-Food Logistics Magazine’s FL100 listing of the top technology solution and service providers to the food industry.

Selection by Inbound Logistics based on ability to drive supply chain excellence by synchronizing material flows with production for greater flexibility, ROI and ease of implementation

LONG BEACH, CA – (April 28, 2010) – Apriso®, a leading provider of manufacturing software solutions for sustained manufacturing operational excellence, today announced selection as a Top 100 Logistics IT Provider for 2010 by Inbound Logistics. Delivering much more than a Manufacturing Execution System, Apriso’s FlexNet allows manufacturers to synchronize supply chain and warehouse material flows with production for greater efficiency and improved flexibility to respond faster to changing market conditions.

“Top 100 Logistics IT Providers such as Apriso empower supply chain management and logistics, and continue to offer innovative and practical solutions in the face of economic uncertainty. During 2010, Apriso consistently provided the kinds of technology solutions Inbound Logistics readers need to successfully manage their global enterprises,” stated Felecia Stratton, Editor, Inbound Logistics. “As shippers, carriers, and 3PLs increase their use of logistics IT, Apriso continues to be flexible and responsive, anticipating customers’ evolving needs. Inbound Logistics is proud to honor Apriso for innovative solutions empowering logistics and supply chain excellence.”

“Apriso is pleased to once again be included with this list of distinguished logistics providers. Our selection validates the benefit our customers achieve when synchronizing their supply chain and warehouse operations with manufacturing,” said Jim Henderson, president and CEO of Apriso.

Methodology

Every April, Inbound Logistics editors recognize 100 logistics IT companies that support and enable logistics excellence. Drawn from a pool of more than 300 companies, using questionnaires, personal interviews and other research, Inbound Logistics selects the Top 100 Logistics IT Providers who are leading the way in 2010. Editors seek to match readers’ fast-changing needs to the capabilities of those companies selected. All companies selected reflect leadership by answering Inbound Logistics readers’ needs for simplicity, ROI and efficient implementation.

For a listing of all winners, please go to: http://www.inboundlogistics.com/lit/top100.shtml.

About Inbound Logistics

Inbound Logistics is the pioneering publication of demand-driven logistics practices, also known as supply chain management. IL’s educational mission is to guide businesses to efficiently manage logistics, reduce and speed inventory, and neutralize transportation cost increases by aligning supply to demand and adjusting enterprise functions to support that paradigm shift. More information about demand-driven logistics practices is available at www.inboundlogistics.com.

About Apriso

Apriso Corporation is a software company dedicated to providing competitive advantage for its customers. It does so by enabling organizations to adapt quickly and easily to market changes and unexpected events. Apriso’s FlexNet platform provides visibility, adaptability and real-time control of manufacturing operations across the enterprise and supply chain network. This is accomplished by integrating planning, execution and control, increasing operational efficiency and eliminating errors in the production process. Apriso serves more than 180 customers in 41 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Its customers include General Motors, Lear, Honeywell, L’Oréal, Trixell, Lockheed Martin, Becton Dickinson, Saint-Gobain, Novelis and Essilor. For more information, please go to http://www.apriso.com.

Apriso and FlexNet are registered trademarks of Apriso Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:

Gordon Benzie

Apriso Corporation

(562) 951-8054

gordon.benzie@apriso.com

###

SKILLMAN, NJ – Netfrate, the top Transatlantic volume logistics provider to Russia, announced today that it has arranged for the trucking, packaging, survey and ocean transport of an MD Explorer® from the Port of Houston to St. Petersburg, Russia with on-carriage to Siberia (Novokuznetsk).

The 32,000-pound helicopter was trucked from MD Helicopters Inc., located in Mesa, Arizona, on a 48-foot stepdeck trailer using Silk Road Transport to the Port of Houston where it was placed into a 456” long x 104” wide x 159” high custom-built crate. The helicopter blades were packaged separately and the shipment was loaded onto a Roll-on/Roll-off vessel which will be arriving in St. Petersburg on April 29th to clear Customs.

“Using St. Petersburg as a transshipment hub versus Vladivostok shaves 1700 km off of the transit, saving a lot of time and avoiding the roads in Siberia which can be of poor quality in some places,” said Pavel Trubetskoy, Netfrate’s CEO. “What’s more, Russian Customs is in the process of requiring cargo arriving in Russia to clear at the first port of entry, which can be a challenge for importers located in remote regions such as Siberia.”

Netfrate also arranged for all risk insurance for this move. The MD Explorer® is ideally suited for rapid role change from an Offshore/Onshore eight-place passenger transport to Emergency Medical Services or Law Enforcement missions. A heavy-duty cargo hook permits 3,000-pound (1360-KG) external load operations.

About Siberia

Siberia is the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving as the massive central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, having served in the same capacity previously for the USSR from its beginning, and the Russian Empire beginning in the 16th century.

It makes up about 77% of Russia’s territory (13.1 million square kilometres), but only 25% of Russia’s population (36 million people). It includes a large part of the Eurasian Steppe and extends eastward from the Ural Mountains to the watershed between Pacific and Arctic drainage basins, and southward from the Arctic Ocean to the hills of north-central Kazakhstan and the national borders of both Mongolia and China.

About Netfrate LLC:

Netfrate, LLC is a wholly USA owned and privately-held logistics provider with extensive experience in all aspects of freight forwarding, multimodal, sea freight, air freight, project cargo, warehousing/distribution, documentation, and cargo insurance.

Netfrate LLC has the ablility to handle projects on a worldwide basis and specializes in servicing all regions of the CIS and Eastern European Countries.

Netfrate LLC is very active between the United States and Canada with frequent service to North Western Russia, Siberia, the Ukraine and the Southern CIS Republics of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Netfrate moves a wide variety of cargo, including supplies for mining, oil and gas related projects.