PROBLEM 1: Urban freight logistics is badly siloed both vertically (collaboration; shared city hub as Nodes) and horizontally (supply chain; vehicle multimodality as Physical Internet Corridors). 

Modes of urban freight transportation do not have federated handling characteristics restricting shared city hubs and bundled deliveries. It also implies that the cargo does not need to be handled, just the load unit such as a cage roller, pallet or a container.
Present auxiliary loading equipment must meet the requirements of the current service provider. This also prevents the implementation of the collaborative synchromodal concept: sharing of city hubs among operators. This prevents optimization of services and minimization of resource use. In addition, this limitation does not allow the cargo to be left or picked up in an arbitrary place unassisted.

Contai technology enables freight to be loaded on any vehicle that is best suited; from the plain ground and unloaded without any external auxiliaries. This allows for the placement and dimensioning of city hubs according to demand - a core part of dynamic city adminstration.

NOTE: All equipment shown in the pictures has been made for concept evaluation purposes only and in no way represents final sales products. CONTAI does not intend to launch its own production but is looking for a strength partner to take advantage of CONTAI’s IPRs.

PROBLEM 2: One-size-fits-for-all load carriers do not serve different uses and causes driving with half-empty vehicles and multiple trips - resulting unnecessary costs, traffic, emissions and reduced level of service rate.

Known urban freight solutions are based on fixed load carrier spaces with specific width, length. Typical container widths are between 60...84 cm and lengths between 120...200 cm having 1...2 m³ space. It is clear that these constraints do not meet nearly all needs. 

Contai LoadCarrier platform is 80 cm wide – like Euro pallets and roller cages. This does not limit the width of applications on top. It is conceivable that applications can be wider and of the required length – within the limits of vehicle capacity and traffic regulations. Contai easy varies between 1-8 m³ with lenghts from 60 cm, not loosing the interconnectivity with any cargo vehicle.

PROBLEM 3: Urban freight is much more than one-way parcel delivery.

LoadCarrier by Contai is a platform for scalable and customized applications for all urban logistics transportation, storage and mobile service needs - all this with the same standard interface by means of the Contai Loader between the load carrier and any present and future vehicle - by any operator. 

Not just parcel compartments, but grocery cages, recycle bins, demolition waste bins, mobile devices, tool boxes, sanitary facilities and temporary storages - these are all part of the responsible urban logistics scope.

PROBLEM 4: Urban freight technologies do not support parallel manned / unmanned autonomous operation.

Known urban logistics container loading and unloading systems require human intervention and the use of muscle power. The load capacity is quite low.

Contai loading and unloading is highly fault tolerant and electrically driven. Loading and unloading can be controlled by an actor. Alternatively the Contai Loader can be operated completely autonomously. When coupled to an unmanned vehicle or AMR mobile robot, a fully autonomous freight delivery and the pick-up performance is achieved - lashing is always automatic.

PROBLEM 5: Known urban container solutions generally do not follow any federated standard and do not form a seamless part of the entire supply chain. Well-functioning solution shall be based on a pragmatic and permanent state, where old and new technologies live side by side.

Contai LoadCarriers comply with both EUR pallet and roller cage standard with enhanched features. This means forklift handling, rollers with automatic brakes and automatic lashing and even more: readiness for full autonomy, digital GRAI identification, GPS tracking, IoT state controlling, positioning and goods protecting.

Picture below: The Contai LoadCarrier base has extremy fault-tolerant and automatic docking interfaces at both ends and automatic lashing hooks below. The length of the base may vary according to the use case. The LoadCarrier suits for manual and fully autonomous use. IoT module is an option.

PROBLEM 6: Door to door last mile is not enough.

To really fulfil urban freight value proposition services have to be extended indoors. All Contai platforms allow the shipment to be carried to final destination and back.
We're talking about two-way last-meter vs. last-mile logistics!