Supplier News

FedEx acquires RouteSmart Technologies

FedEx Corp., Memphis, Tennessee, has acquired RouteSmart Technologies, a Columbia, Maryland-based route optimization solutions provider serving newspaper, postal and parcel, utilities and field service, public works and waste collection organizations worldwide.

FedEx says the acquisition of RouteSmart will allow it to drive efficiency across its global operations while also strengthening its suite of technology solutions.

“This is yet another step on our journey to make supply chains smarter for everyone as we revolutionize logistics,” FedEx Corp. President and CEO Raj Subramaniam says. “Our physical network generates terabytes of data that contain invaluable insights about the global supply chain. Through this acquisition, we will use RouteSmart’s expertise and proven technology platform to accelerate the deployment of a common route optimization capability for FedEx operations that will enable our team members to work safer and smarter as they deliver superior service to our customers.”

According to FedEx, the companies expect “a seamless integration.” FedEx has long been a customer of RouteSmart, using its Routing as a Service (RaaS) product in its ground operations. RaaS serves as the backbone for the internal FedEx Route Optimization tool, which it plans to roll out globally as part of ongoing network transformation.

RouteSmart will continue to work with customers across a broad range of industries and will operate as a standalone entity under FedEx Dataworks, a direct subsidiary of FedEx Corp.

Athens Services to open California MRF

Athens Services, a waste and recycling services company in Southern California, soon will open a new material recovery facility (MRF) in Irwindale to process a variety of material streams, including dry commercial, residential, mixed residential and dry municipal solid waste, with a processing capacity of 70 tons per hour.

The MRF, designed and installed by San Diego-based CP Group, is engineered to be highly flexible, with the ability to recover recyclables or create a refuse-derived fuel product, the supplier says. The Irwindale MRF is expected to be fully operational by May.

The MRF is housed in a new 155,500-square-foot building in Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley and is projected to divert nearly 200,000 tons of material from landfills annually.

The MRF features two infeed lines, each with 35 tons per hour of capacity. The use of a CP Auger Screen means the system does not require a traditional presort station. The OCC Auger Screen fractionates large materials, while smaller materials pass through another series of scalping auger screens.

Next, a CP Disc Screen separates 2D from 3D materials, preparing them for downstream sorting using near-infrared and artificial intelligence systems paired with air ejection.

“This facility represents a new era in waste management and sustainability for Athens Services and the communities we serve,” says Riel Johnson, vice president of Resource Recovery at Athens Services. “By combining cutting-edge technology with sustainable practices, we’re leading the way in resource recovery.”

Toppoint Holdings closes $10M IPO

Toppoint Holdings Inc. of North Wales, Pennsylvania, has closed its initial public offering of an aggregate of 2.5 million shares of its common stock at a price of $4 per share, for a total of $10 million in gross proceeds before deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses. The company’s shares began trading on the NYSE stock exchange Jan. 22 under the ticker symbol “TOPP.”

Toppoint also has granted the underwriter an option, exercised within 45 days from the date of the final prospectus, to purchase up to an additional 375,000 shares of common stock at the public offering price, representing 15 percent of the shares sold in the offering, less underwriting discounts and commissions, to cover overallotments.

The company was established in 2014 and specializes in transporting recovered paper, scrap metal and wooden logs for large waste companies, recycling centers and commodity traders. Toppoint’s operations extend to major ports, including Newark, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Toppoint Holdings expanded into the recycling export transport markets of Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida; Baltimore; and Ensenada, Mexico, as of 2024. The company also provides trucking and logistics brokerage solutions for plastic and other commodities, servicing key commercial hubs across the U.S.

Toppoint expects to use the net proceeds from the IPO for geographic expansions, investments in physical and information technology infrastructure, growing its sales team and marketing efforts and general working capital and other corporate purposes.

Viably named authorized Diamond Z distributor

Viably, a Denver-based equipment distributor to the waste and recycling industry, has been named an authorized distributor for Diamond Z grinders in California, Arizona and Nevada. The company says the expansion strengthens its product portfolio, offering commercial wood recyclers, composting facilities, land-clearing companies and organics recyclers access to its grinding solutions.

“This partnership and product expansion underscores Viably’s commitment to providing a complete suite of solutions for our customers in the waste and recycling industry,” Viably President Brandon Lapsys says. “By distributing Diamond Z grinders, we’re ensuring our customers have access to even more of the best equipment on the market, enhancing their efficiency and operational success.”

Viably adds Diamond Z’s high-speed grinders, including horizontal, tub and electric models, to its current product portfolio, which also includes the Komptech Lacero 8010 horizontal grinder.

“Together, these product offerings provide unmatched versatility for businesses with processing and throughput requirements of all sizes, with options tailored to a wide range of needs,” Viably says.

The company notes that customers who currently use Diamond Z grinders will benefit from Viably’s localized technical and parts support network, with on-the-ground service teams and parts availability across California, Arizona and Nevada.

Customer benefits of the partnership expansion with Caldwell, Idaho-based Diamond Z include comprehensive equipment solutions, a broad product range, expert service and support, tailored solutions and a commitment to growth, Viably says.

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Viably,” Diamond Z Vice President Ben Frettsome says. “Their deep connection within the waste and recycling industry ... [makes] them the perfect partner to help us expand our presence in the Southwest region.”