IN D U ST RY N EW S 2023 FIDI CONFERENCE HEADS TO BANGKOK FIDI has announced that its 2023 Conference will be held in Bangkok, Thailand. The change in location comes because COVID-related restrictions are ongoing in Japan, the original destination for the annual event. Full details on page 60. FIDI warns on global energy prices AIRES LAUNCHES VOICE-ACTIVATED HELP Aires has launched a customer support service connected to Amazons voiceactivated Alexa. Aires Voice Assistant (AVA) allows relocating employees to ask their Alexa devices questions about their relocations and other related information. This includes status of shipments, purchases and reimbursements, and tax queries. PROFESSIONAL RELO JOINS PACKIMPEX Professional Relo Srl has became part of Packimpex Group, as part of a succession plan put in place by its previous owner and managing director Maddalena Michieli. All its staff will join the Packimpex Group, with its team of long-term employees Marta Conterno and Silvia Fiorentini, supported by Packimpex senior management member Mlanie Mor Zucchero, leading the Italian business into the future. PALLET REUSE UP The used wooden pallet industry has reported large growth in business, as the cost of raw materials and transport have increased. According to members of the UK-based National Association of Pallet Distributors (NAPD), demand has risen to unparalleled levels up to 70 per cent higher, and from further afield than usual. SBKS NEW HQ SBK Moving/ rnskldsviks Stadsbudskontor AB hasunveiled a new head office and terminal in Jordbro, Stockholm. The new facility has 4,000m2 warehouse space, 11m ceiling height and 350m2 office. 14 FF307 September-November 22 pp10-15 News.indd 14 FIDI has written to its Afliates around the world to update them on the signicant rise in energy costs, and the impact on the international moving industry. In the open letter to its membership issued on June 20, 2022, FIDI SecretaryGeneral Jesse van Sas said the World Bank expected energy prices to rise 50 per cent this year compared with 2021, with diesel, oil and coal among the commodities that will see substantial rises. He added that, while forecasts then point to prices falling in 2023 and 2024, they are expected to stay higher than average. The ongoing war in Ukraine has added complexity and could add volatility and further inationary pressure on prices, he said. FIDI issued an infographic highlighting some of the key energy price trends. Details of how to download the full letter and infographic can be found on www.difocus.org Alfa Quality Moving purchases NFB International Relocations MIDAQ Relocation the parent company of Alfa Quality Moving AS in Sweden has bought international moving and relocation business NFB International Relocations AS from Bjrn and Maria Carlsen. According to a press release by Alfa, the acquisition is a great opportunity to grow Alfa in the Nordic region and double its turnover in Norway. The Oslo-based companys current turnover is around 45 million Norwegian krona (US$4.48m). It has 13 employees, and is a member of FIDI, PAIMA and IAM. Paxton toasts 75 years Paxton Companies has celebrated its 75th anniversary. According to the company, the business was started with a single donkey pulling a wagon to move lawmakers and their families onto Capitol Hill in Washington DC. The fourth-generation family business said it in a release its goal is to lead the industry into the future of moving, going where our clients need us most, all while bringing a family-owned business feel to every project and move we handle. Were proud of the many milestones we have achieved together over the years from piloting new relocation programs and technologies for our customers, to the many memorable meetings weve had with partners at industry events, to new ofce openings supporting our mission abroad, to our carbon offset initiatives, and everything in between, said the company. WW W. F I D I FOC U S . OR G 06/09/2022 14:46