DC Velocity - February 2017

4 DC VELOCITY FEBRUARY 2017 www.dcvelocity.com inbound

Here’s our monthly roundup of some of the charitable works and donations by companies in the material handling and logistics space.

; Somerville, N.J.-based transportation management software (TMS) developer Aljex Software has joined forces with transportation industry financing group BAM Worldwide to support the Navy SEAL Foundation. For every shipment completed on the Aljex platform using BAM financing, the partners will make a donation to the foundation, which provides support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families.

; Pittsburgh-based vertical storage unit manufacturer Hänel Storage Systems has donated an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) to the Vincennes University Logistics Training & Education Center in Plainfield, Ind. Arranged by industry group MHI, the gift will allow students in the supply chain logistics management program to train on a Rotomat vertical carousel.

; Employees at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Crowley Maritime Corp.

recently volunteered their time to assemble and deliver 400 teddy bears for patients at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Each bear was dressed in a T-shirt that included hand-drawn messages of hope and encouragement from Crowley employees.

; Australia-based pallet provider CHEP Australia painted some of its iconic blue pallets pink in October to raise awareness for breast and gynecological cancers. To promote awareness of Pink Ribbon Day and support supermarket chain Woolworths in its corporate partnership with the Cancer Council, CHEP sent a truckload of pink pallets to the Woolworths DC in Minchinbury, New South Wales, for circulation into stores.

; Mike Gardner, president and CEO of Scranton, Pa.-based 3PL Kane Is Able Inc., was presented with the 2016 “Fearless Fundraiser” award by Pelotonia, an organization that runs fundraising bike tours to fight cancer. Gardner raised close to $70,000 in funds for cancer research last year.

Logistics gives back

The benefits of working at forklift maker Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing include good pay, rewarding work, and … six-pack abs? The Columbus, Ind.-based forklift vendor recently opened a fitness and health facility at its North American corporate headquarters as a way to boost productivity and employee wellness.

Managed by wellness company Optum, the complex includes a fitness center featuring basketball courts, a yoga room, free weights, workout machines, and an indoor track. For those seeking alternative pastimes, there’s a rec room room with a pool table, a pingpong table, multiple TVs, a shuffleboard table, and a videogame console. Open to both Toyota associates and their families, the complex also boasts a medical center and pharmacy, managed by Cerner.

Known to locals as T+Rex, short for Toyota Recreational Complex, the facility had its official opening last month. At the event, Toyota officials launched the T+Rex Fitness Challenge, an eight-week competition for associates that encourages participants to earn points based on weekly activities. The top three point-earners will be recognized at an event in May.