New Era, the international lifestyle brand known for its deep roots in sport and culture, has officially launched its European logistics operation in partnership with Katoen Natie Consumer Goods and Industry. The new operation is based at the Katoen Natie logistics platform in Kallo, Belgium, near the Port of Antwerp — complementing New Era's existing European supply chain setup and positioning the brand for enhanced service and faster access to key markets. This milestone marks the beginning of an innovation-driven partnership between two companies with shared values, a joint commitment to operational excellence, and a future-focused mindset.   “We are delighted to welcome New Era to our platform in Kallo and support their European logistics activities with a solution that combines flexibility, speed, and operational excellence,” said Joost Vanderplaetsen, Commercial Director of Katoen Natie Consumer Goods and Industry. The new logistics setup provides New Era with a full end-to-end solution, managing the entire supply chain from inbound transportation to final delivery—whether to retail partners or direct-to-consumer channels. By combining omnichannel capabilities, automation, and value-added services, the operation offers flexibility and responsiveness, enabling increased speed to market and agile fulfilment across Europe. At the core of the solution is an automated AutoStore system, a space-optimized, goods-to-man solution that improves picking speed, accuracy, and overall efficiency. This automation supports seasonal demand, promotional volumes, and evolving market dynamics of omnichannel retailing. The setup is further enhanced by an innovative integration of IT systems, including a Twintag powered solution, connecting both companies through extensive APIs, enabling real-time data exchange, full visibility, and streamlined processes. [caption id="attachment_15949" align="alignnone" width="512"] AutoStore installation[/caption]     “This partnership strengthens our logistics efficiency by joining forces with a company that not only shares our strategic outlook, but also brings extensive industry insights. As an Antwerp native, I take immense pride in collaborating with Katoen Natie, one of our city’s most prestigious companies.” said Paul Gils, VP EMEA New Era. “We have found a strong logistics partner in Katoen Natie, one that understands our business and supports our growth in the region," said Danny Moult, Operations Director EMEA New Era. The success of this project is a direct result of the joint commitment and collaboration between both organizations. The New Era team was consistently on-site alongside Katoen Natie during critical go-live moments — a testament to their dedication to delivering the best possible customer experience. This joint effort was already put to the test and proven successful during the handling of key campaigns including the 2024 Black Friday period. [caption id="attachment_15956" align="alignnone" width="512"] New Era Installation[/caption]   “This project is a true example of co-creation,’’ added Nathan Dujardin, Business Solutions Engineer at Katoen Natie Consumer Goods and Industry. “Together, we’ve built a flexible, scalable and omnichannel logistics solution tailored to New Era’s unique needs.” To mark the occasion, representatives from New Era and Katoen Natie gathered in Kallo for a celebratory inauguration event, featuring a behind-the-scenes tour of the operation and an opportunity for both teams to connect and celebrate the joint achievement. The collaboration is the result of several months of intensive joint planning, marked by transparency, co-creation, and shared goals—a testament to the strong alignment between both organizations. Both companies look forward to growing the partnership in the years ahead.

Quality is non-negotiable. From safety protocols to customer satisfaction, consistent and transparent quality processes are essential for operational excellence. That’s why at Katoen Natie, we’ve developed a cloud-based Quality Management System (QMS) that helps us — and our customers — maintain high standards, resolve issues efficiently, and continuously improve performance.

Why Use a Digital QMS?

Our QMS acts as a central hub for all things related to quality. It’s more than just a tool — it’s a structured way of working that brings clarity, accountability, and speed to quality-related workflows. Here’s how it supports daily operations:

• Accessible Anytime, Anywhere: As a cloud-based platform, our QMS can be accessed from any device, making it easy to stay connected across sites and teams.
• Task & Flow Automation: Built-in flow management tools streamline processes with automated tasks, notifications, and easy collaboration between teams.
• Standardized Forms: Templates and structured forms ensure consistency across sites, improving data quality and simplifying reporting.
• Centralized Communication: All communication related to a quality flow is logged in one place, reducing mail traffic and improving traceability.
• Clear Ownership: Each task is assigned to a named user with a unique login, ensuring follow-up and full accountability.

Core Quality Flows: Managing Issues Proactively

Our QMS includes several pre-defined workflows that help track, resolve, and learn from quality-related issues:

• Complaint Flow: Gives customers a direct channel to report outbound issues to our operations team.
• Non-Conformity Flow: Flags discrepancies found during inbound checks, which are communicated clearly back to the customer.
• CAPA Flow: Supports corrective and preventive actions to fix recurring problems and improve overall process stability.
• Transport Claims Flow: Handles transport-related complaints and coordinates follow-up between admin, carrier, and finance departments.

Audit and Safety Flows: Keeping Standards High

We’ve also built specialized flows to support audits and on-site safety management:

• Monthly HSEQ Audits: Digital audits linked to reporting dashboards provide an easy way to monitor trends and spot gaps.
• Dangerous Situations Flow: Enables teams to report and resolve safety hazards before they become incidents.
• Battery Room Audits: Regular checks ensure safe and compliant operation in battery storage areas.

Additional Features for Tailored Quality Control

Because not every situation fits neatly into a standard workflow, our QMS includes additional features that offer flexibility where it’s needed most. The Business Request Flow allows teams to manage special customer requests in a structured and traceable manner, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Meanwhile, the Closing Tour feature enables end-of-shift checks by scanning QR codes at designated locations, allowing teams to log results directly into the system. This not only enhances visibility but also strengthens on-site security and compliance.  

Quality at the Core of Operations

At Katoen Natie, we see quality not as a separate task, but as something built into every aspect of our operations. Our cloud-based QMS supports that mindset by offering an integrated, user-friendly platform that ensures consistency, transparency, and accountability. Whether it’s resolving non-conformities, handling complaints, or improving safety through audits, our QMS helps us stay aligned with customer expectations and regulatory standards — while also giving teams the tools they need to act quickly and effectively. Speak with an expert today to discover how our approach to quality management can support your operations.

In the logistics industry, efficient transport management is key to smooth operations. Many businesses rely on third-party Transport Management Systems (TMS) to coordinate shipments, track deliveries, and ensure compliance. But without seamless communication between warehouse and transport systems, inefficiencies and delays can occur. At Katoen Natie, we specialize in integrating our Warehouse Management System (WMS) with third-party TMS platforms, ensuring a fast, reliable, and compliant flow of data between warehouse and transport providers.  

Why Integrate WMS with TMS?

Integrating warehouse and transport systems eliminates the need for manual data entry, reduces errors, and speeds up the shipping process. Our plug-and-play integration allows for: ✔ Quick onboarding of new carriers with standardized labels and electronic data exchange (EDI). ✔ Faster shipping processes with automated label printing and transport updates. ✔ Compliance assurance by ensuring all transport data meets industry and carrier-specific requirements.

How Katoen Natie Makes TMS Integration Simple

To enhance flexibility and ensure smooth communication with various transport providers, we’ve developed generic transport messages that can be adapted to different customer needs. Using middleware, we can translate transport messages into the correct format for any TMS, making integrations faster and more cost-effective. Tailored Integration Solutions We recognize that many customers prefer to use their own TMS platforms. To accommodate this, we provide direct integration between our WMS and external TMS solutions. Our pre-configured transport messages include:

• Label printing request and response: Easily request and process shipping label requests.
• Return label printing request and response: Easily request and process return label or document requests.
• Cancel or close messages: Ensure seamless shipment cancellations or modifications.

These standardized messages allow for fast and flexible TMS integration, reducing manual intervention and ensuring smooth warehouse-to-transport communication. Flexible Label Processing for Any Transport Provider With versatile label processing, we ensure that the right shipping documents are always available:

• If the required shipping data is already provided by the customer, we generate labels based on a simple reference.
• If labels need to be created within an external TMS, we send all relevant shipment details for automatic label generation.

This flexibility means that regardless of the TMS in use, we can seamlessly integrate and ensure fast, accurate label generation.

A Smarter Approach to Transport Integration

At Katoen Natie, we are committed to providing robust and standardized integration solutions that guarantee success and efficiency. Our TMS integration solutions ensure that warehouse and transport operations are seamlessly connected, offering a wide range of possibilities tailored to our customers' needs. By leveraging middleware and generic transport messages, we deliver optimized performance and superior service, helping our customers achieve their logistics goals. Experience the difference with Katoen Natie's TMS integration solutions. Speak with an expert today to learn more about how we can streamline your transport operations.

At Katoen Natie Consumer Goods and Industry, we are committed to pioneering sustainable practices. After a thorough and collaborative study, we made the strategic decision to transition to lithium batteries for our rolling equipment. Environmental Benefits One of the key drivers behind this shift is the environmental advantage of lithium-ion batteries. Unlike traditional lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries do not contain harmful substances such as lead or sulfuric acid, making them a safer and more sustainable option. Their extended lifespan also means fewer batteries end up in landfills, significantly reducing our environmental footprint. While lithium-ion batteries offer significant sustainability advantages, their production requires rare metals such as lithium and cobalt, which come with environmental and ethical concerns. The extraction of these materials can have ecological impacts, and recycling remains a challenge. However, advancements in battery recycling are improving, ensuring that with proper management, lithium-ion batteries remain a more sustainable alternative.     Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings Beyond environmental benefits, lithium-ion batteries require minimal maintenance compared to their lead-acid counterparts, reducing both downtime and operational costs. Additionally, their ability to handle multiple intermediate charges without performance issues ensures greater flexibility and uptime for our equipment, leading to increased productivity and efficiency. A Collaborative Effort This transition was made possible through the collective expertise of our Fleet Managers, the Excellence Center, Central Purchase, Risk team, and trusted suppliers. Their combined efforts have played a vital role in implementing this sustainable innovation and ensuring a smooth transition. Moving Towards a Greener Future By adopting lithium battery technology, Katoen Natie takes another bold step towards a more sustainable and efficient future. This initiative underscores our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, operational excellence, and innovative solutions. We are committed to doing our part by implementing sustainable solutions that benefit both our operations and the planet.