News

EVENTS

9th February

FREIGHT

Euro freight boost

Road freight demand led a recovery in European forwarding markets at the end of 2010, according to analysis by Danske Bank. After declining in October and November, the bank’s European Freight Forwarding Index increased to 59 in December, up from 56 the previous month.

BUSINESS NEWS

Ports milestone

PD Ports has announced it has handled its 150,000 container through its container terminals for the first time in history within a calendar year. Frans Calje, PD Ports MD Unitised, said: “To have reached this record number from a steady throughput of around 80,000 containers only some two and a half years ago is a testimony to the success of our portcentric logistics strategy.”

Tyre upgrade

Great Bear Distribution has signed a three-year contract with Michelin which will see tyres professionally fitted and serviced by a combination of ATS Euromaster and independent Michelin Business Advantage dealers. Existing fitments across Great Bear’s 65 rigids, 77 tractor units and 250 trailers will gradually be replaced with Michelin rubber over the coming months.

Contract win

Widdowson has won UK logistics contracts for two companies, SwissPrimePack and Asia UK Trading. SwissPrimePack manufactures vending machine products in Switzerland. Asia UK is a FMCG business based in Middlesex that sources foods from around the world for the high street discount sector.

Delivering racking

Nightfreight has won a further three and a half year contract with storage solutions supplier Rapid Racking. Nightfreight will manage the complete outbound delivery of Rapid Racking's full product range including pallet racking, shelving and containers from its Gloucestershire site to its B2B and B2C customers nationwide.

Crisp contract

Crisp maker Tyrrells has appointed LPR to supply pallets to its Leominster factory. The service enables Tyrrells’ logistics provider to back haul LPR pallets to its depot for commercial and environmental efficiency.

INTERNATIONAL

Energy boost

Ceva Logistics is expanding further into West Africa and Central Asia. The areas will be managed under Ceva’s Southern Europe, Middle East & Africa (SEMEA) region. Ceva’s decision is in response to its growing customer base in the energy sector in the regions.

Poland to China

Kuehne + Nagel has started to offer a weekly less-than-container load (LCL) export service between Warsaw and Singapore in order to develop a fast and frequent connection between Poland and China for export activities. The new service enables cargo to be shipped from Poland (Warsaw) to the port of Singapore within 26 days. 

Strong performance

French global transport and logistics company Norbert Dentressangle performed strongly in 2010. Announcing its annual revenue figures, Norbert Dentressangle said its full-year 2010 revenue grew 4.4% to 2,839m Euros. Business outside France accounted for 44% of 2010 consolidated revenue. A strong Q4 performance confirmed the momentum of first three quarters of 2010.

Finish sell

Marine Transport Logistics, Inc. (MTL) is to sell its Finland-based branch AB Astrareal OY as a part of business restructuring and market consolidation initiatives for the asking price of €150,000.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Fitness programme

Fitness equipment supplier Life Fitness has chosen Delta Software to integrate its warehousing and logistics operations across Europe using 'DeltaWMS' systems. The DeltaWMS systems will sit in Life Fitness' three third party logistics (3PL) centres where its warehousing logistics is outsourced to Foulger (UK), Geodis (Holland) and Wincanton (Germany).

Visible progress

Carlsberg UK (CUK) is set to roll out the Microlise Fleet & Distribution Transport Management Systems to its 300+ vehicle fleet to provide end to end visibility of their operations.

EXHIBITIONS

Presentations

Some of the UK’s leading supply chain and logistics professionals will be presenting case studies at Logistics Link South which takes place at Sandown Park, Esher, on 15 and 16 February. Presentations will offer valuable insights from some of Europe’s most successful logistics operations that were finalists at the Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2010.

New exhibition

A new exhibition -Total Logistics North - will be held on the 28 and 29 September 2011 at Doncaster Racecourse. It will feature products, systems and services utilised throughout the supply chain

PEOPLE

Business leader award

Andrew Tinkler, chief executive of the Stobart Group, has been named the CBI North West Business Leader of the Year. He received his award at a ceremony in Manchester.

International role

Professor Alan Waller OBE FCILT is the new International President of The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT). International President-elect since last May, Alan has taken over the role earlier than planned due to the death of former International President Len Harper FCILT of CILT Australia.

New role

Evan Puzey has been promoted to the role of chief operating officer for Kewill’s Asian operations. Puzey has 20 years of experience in the supply chain industry and has been with Kewill since 2004.

Raising awareness

Geodis Calberson has hired Anna Kozlowska as marketing manager, with responsibility for raising brand awareness for Geodis Calberson and the Fortec Pallet Distribution Network. She joins after 2½ years with the CILT.

HEALTH & SAFETY ROLE

Safety course

Lifting Equipment specialist, Demag Cranes & Components Ltd, has launched a new training course aimed at all users of lifting equipment. The course, which is entitled 'Safe Use of Lifting Tackle and Operation of Overhead Gantry Cranes', is designed to improve workplace safety and help employers meet their obligations under workplace legislation.

Seven million contract

Wincanton has renewed its UK contract with French construction materials specialist Saint-Gobain to distribute the manufacturer’s range of products for the UK water industry. The agreement, worth £7.0 million over three years, extends Wincanton’s nine-year partnership with Saint-Gobain.