Zurich/Hamburg, December 14th 2020 – Nexxiot introduces the third generation of its iconic Gateway Device at the end of the year. The new Globehopper 3.0 comes with updated Bluetooth Low Energy protocol which helps when connecting sensors in a modular way. It provides options to connect via 4G and is already prepared for the arrival of 5G. Besides improved localization the level of ATEX certification has also been further increased. The devices are all zero maintenance with energy harvesting and low power consumption as standard. VTG, one of Europe’s leading railcar leasing and rail logistics companies, will be the first partner to be equipped with the new Globehopper 3.0.
Innovation leader VTG has long been considered a change agent for their industry. With the largest fleet of Rail Freight wagons for lease in Europe they have consistently demonstrated that rail can be profitable providing the business remains open to change and is nimble when making decisions.
One such critical decision has become a benchmark for quality for the entire global rail industry. End of 2016 VTG decided to equip their entire European rail fleet with equipment from digital enabler Nexxiot. Now the rollout continues with Nexxiot’s latest hardware device, the highly anticipated Globehopper 3.0.
Before we get to the technology it’s useful to consider what is happening to the global supply chain and why it’s important for us all. As a leading wagon hire and rail logistics company, VTG is committed to making rail freight as attractive as possible. Roads have been becoming ever more congested with trucks, which are between 3 to 6 times more polluting than rail as a mode of transport. To make rail more attractive to shippers, it must become more cost effective as well as more predictable and dependable for customers. If these elements are in focus the whole service will be even more sustainable and can represent a viable alternative to other modalities.
As rail freight punctuality, ‘planability’ and sustainability improve it’s clear that this modality is in the ascendancy again. Since the advent of steam powered rail transport in the late 18th C, there was a rapid growth in innovation as it spearheaded the industrial revolution and the expansion of urbanism. In the past 50 or so years it seems there were few major advancements as old habits die hard and other modes took over. In a post Covid world we see the need for flexibility in the supply chain and the use of resources based on their relative strengths and how fit they are for purpose.
Sven Wellbrock, Chief Operating Officer Europe and Chief Safety Officer of VTG is a great believer in combined transport or in other words making rail properly align with customers’ needs by syncing it with other transport types so there are smooth transitions. For example rail can take bulky goods on the longest legs of the journey and road transport can take care of the last mile to the customer. This approach means that the best mode is used for the appropriate part of the journey and the net effect is more sustainable and predictable cargo. This is only possible when each rail wagon is equipped with technology to provide data on critical parameters.
Head of Innovation at VTG, Hanno Schell, is leading the adoption of new technologies within the company. He understands the importance in delivering reliability, transparency and the tools that cargo owners desire. He also knows how fast to move to keep ahead of competitors inside the industry but also to ward off disruption from new players who try to take share of wallet.
“Transparency on accurate mileage, impact events, quality of goods and reliable arrival times (ETA) are all now essential to keep our customers happy. This year’s pandemic has reminded us of just how critical rail freight’s role in the transportation system is as a whole. We seek every technological advantage to strengthen the position of rail, the eco-friendly mode of transportation, and develop a collaborative schedule for a sustainable mobility transition”,
Hanno Schell says.
Rail is unrivalled in its ability to satisfy ecological, economic and social demands providing its enabled through technology to address the needs of the market in these times of rapid social change. The Nexxiot technology consists of sensors, communication gateways, connectivity and an intelligent IoT cloud platform to create meaningful actions from the data.
“The new Globehopper 3 device delivers many benefits to the customer that until recently were unthinkable”
says Nexxiot CEO Stefan Kalmund.
Updated features include a new Bluetooth Low Energy protocol which helps when connecting sensors in a modular way. It provides options to connect via 4G and is already prepared for the arrival of 5G. Besides improved localization the level of ATEX certification has also been further increased. The devices are all zero maintenance with energy harvesting and low power consumption as standard.
About VTG
VTG Aktiengesellschaft is one of Europe’s leading railcar leasing and rail logistics companies, with a fleet of more than 95,000 railcars. VTG offers full service, providing tank cars, intermodal cars, standard freight cars and sliding wall cars. In addition to the leasing of railcars, the Group offers comprehensive multimodal logistics services, mainly around rail transport and global tank container transports. With the combination of its three interlinked divisions Railcar, Rail Logistics and Tanktainer, VTG offers its customers a high-performance platform for the international transportation of their freight. The Group has many years of experience and focused expertise, in particular in the transport of liquid and sensitive goods. Its customers include numerous well-known companies from almost every industrial sector, including the chemical, petroleum, automotive, paper and agricultural industries. In the 2019 financial year, VTG generated revenue of EUR 1,221 million and operating profit (EBITDA) of EUR 512 million. Via its subsidiaries and affiliates, the company, which has its head office in Hamburg, operates primarily in Europe, North America, Russia and Asia. On December 31, 2019, VTG had 1,750 employees worldwide.
More information at www.vtg.com
About Nexxiot
Nexxiot AG from Zurich, Switzerland, is a driver of the digital logistics of tomorrow. The company’s goal is to enable a five percent reduction in global CO2 emissions by increasing cargo transport efficiency and eliminating waste caused by empty runs and inefficient routes. To achieve this, the company empowers its customers to leverage the power of their data with cutting-edge technology. Therefore Nexxiot provides an integrated solution to track, find and protect cargo from over 160 countries around the globe and across 450 network roaming partners to ensure trust, security, and efficiency. Data from more than 4 billion travelled kilometers is stored in Nexxiot’s dedicated logistics cloud. Employees from over 19 countries contribute to the success of the company. In addition to its headquarters in Switzerland, Nexxiot operates in Germany, the USA and is pursuing a global growth strategy.
For more information, visit www.nexxiot.com
Images
Picture 1: VTG is the first partner of Nexxiot to be equipped with the new generation of the Globehopper. (Image source: VTG)
Picture 2: The new Globehopper 3.0 is technologically future-proof and makes Nexxiot customers’ processes more transparent. (Image source: Nexxiot)
