Author: Archive

Local logistics firm drives business forward

Posted by | Feb 26, 2008 | |

Southwick-based distribution company Axtra Express Haulage, a member of Palletways, the number one pallet network in Europe, has expanded their vehicle fleet to meet increased customer demand.

Axtra Express Haulage joined the Palletways network, which offers express distribution of small consignments of palletised freight across the UK and to mainland Europe, in August 2007 and has now invested £198,000 in six new vehicles to meet the growth in business. The company now has a 22-strong fleet and the expansion means that Axtra has doubled the amount of pallets they can handle as a member of the Palletways network.

Axtra Express Haulage is one of more than 100 local members that make up the Palletways UK network, which provides a range of express distribution services, including next day, economy and timed delivery options.

Mel Weller, Managing Director of Axtra Express Haulage said, “We have seen a huge growth in business since joining the Palletways network and we are excited about the coming year’s business opportunities. Being part of Palletways, the largest network of its kind, means we can offer our customers cost-effective overnight and express freight services to anywhere in the UK, as well as being able to offer services to mainland Europe.”

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DHL opens new logistics center in Estonia

Posted by | Feb 26, 2008 | |

Today marks the opening of DHL Estonia’s new logistics center on Betooni Street for the processing of goods transported over land. The new center, much larger than the existing one, will provide complex logistics services ranging from handling and loading goods to third-party logistics and cross-docking.

Kärt says the new logistics center will allow them to process large quantities of goods more efficiently: while only 9 loading bridges were available in the previous terminal, the new center boasts 32. This will improve the time it takes to process goods and reduce supply times.

The first stage of the logistics center comprises a 3000 sqm terminal and a 4000 sqm warehouse. Potential future expansion of the terminal and warehouse space has been taken into account, with the center’s 30,000 sqm of territory presenting plenty of opportunities. Investment in the construction of the center exceeded 100 million kroons.

The grand opening of the center took place at 3.00 pm 26.02 and was attended by almost 300 DHL Freight clients, partners and investors and the center’s builders. Giving the opening speech will be DHL Freght Managing Director, UK/IE, Nordics, CEE & EMA Wolfgang W. Dölger.

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TNT Express merges Dutch and Belgian businesses

Posted by | Feb 26, 2008 | |

TNT Express is merging its subsidiaries in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg into a new unit, TNT Express Benelux, to grow its business and improve service levels.

The main aims of the merger are to generate strategic and innovation advantages and create customer benefits through improved service and easier coordination with harmonized systems and processes, TNT Express said in a statement.

TNT Express Benelux will be headed by Rob van den Helder as managing director. Other senior managers include Silvio Mestdagh (Director Sales and Marketing Benelux), Bas Janssen (Director Operations & Services Benelux) and Wim Schalk (Finance & ICS Benelux). Michel Timmermans will be regional manager for the Netherlands and Karl Moeremans will be in charge of Belgium & Luxembourg.

TNT Express Benelux, with 2,100 employees, will have one head office at two locations: one in Houten (Netherlands) and one in Brussels (Belgium). TNT Express Netherlands, with nearly 1,500 staff, was the larger of the two businesses being merged.

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PIN Group aims to prevent break-up

Posted by | Feb 26, 2008 | |

PIN Group is seeking to secure a future for itself as a nationwide delivery firm and prevent a break-up and sale of its regional subsidiaries.

German media reported today that several publishing companies were considering buying back their former mail delivery businesses which PIN had acquired in recent years in order to build up a nationwide network.

According to a report in Handelsblatt, major media groups including Axel Springer, Holtzbrinck and Madsack, were interested in regaining control over their former subsidiaries in order to use them to deliver free local and regional publications.

But PIN Group declared in a statement that it was still negotiating with potential investors over a “major solution” that would allow it to remain as a single, nationwide company. “There can be no talk of an impending break-up of the PIN Group,” declared Bruno Kübler, financial administrator of the PIN Group holding company. “There are seriously interested parties who are already in the process of due diligence.”

However, Kübler said he did not exclude “regional solutions” for individual locations. There were “numerous” interested parties whose offers were currently being considered.

At the same time, most of the PIN subsidiary companies would be forced to lay off staff over the next few weeks as payment of staff salaries through insolvency funds expired, he said.

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UPS Driver in China Wins Global Community Service Award

Posted by | Feb 26, 2008 | |

UPS driver Andy He Jinchang of Guangzhou, China, has earned the company’s top global community service award, the first time a non-U.S. employee has ever been so honored.

Jinchang was recognized for his personal outreach efforts to rural communities in the Guangdong Province where he is helping school children, mentally-challenged children and the elderly.

The Jim Casey Community Service Award winner is chosen annually from nominations solicited from UPS’s 425,000 employees. The Casey Award was created to recognize outstanding community service, a hallmark of UPS’s corporate legacy and commitment to social responsibility.

Jinchang’s UPS award follows other local recognition. Andy has been recognized as a local pioneer for voluntary service, receiving a Certificate of Honor from the Guangzhou Youth Education Work Group, and a Letter of Appreciation from the Guangdong province government.

Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation’s major areas of focus include community safety, nonprofit effectiveness, economic and global literacy, environmental sustainability and diversity. The UPS Foundation pursues these initiatives by identifying specific projects where its support can help produce a measurable social impact. In 2007, The UPS Foundation donated more than USD 46 million to charitable organizations worldwide.

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TNT boosts green rating

Posted by | Feb 26, 2008 | |

TNT has enhanced its ‘green’ credentials by gaining the ISO 14001 accreditation, an official acknowledgement that TNT is making significant strides towards reducing its carbon footprint and CO2 emissions.

Twelve TNT locations up and down the UK, were put through a tough critical examination by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LQRA), with assessors conducting checks on the company’s environmental management activities. These included waste reduction and recycling, fuel efficiency, environmental training, pollution control and energy reduction.

Tom Bell, TNT express services managing director, said: “We are the only express and logistics operator to achieve this certification on a company-wide basis, and the first to hold both ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 (Health & Safety) standards at the same time.

“The transport industry generates 20 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions and as express industry leaders, TNT contributes to that output. We want to pave the way in reducing our carbon footprint and lead by example. This is a tremendous achievement but it’s not just about winning awards – it’s about doing the right thing.”

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Dutch try to resolve halt to postal liberalisation

Posted by | Feb 26, 2008 | |

In the wake of Germany introducing a minimum wage to postal workers, Holland may well follow suit.

Dutch postal company TNT, recently postponed moving into the German postal market due to the imposition of the minimum wage which they claim has had a serious impact on the viability of competing with German postal operator, Deutsche Poste.

In Holland, at TNT rivals, Selekt Mail and Sandd, workers are paid significantly less than many other workers. Jan de Jong, an FNV Bondgenoten director responsible for road transport hinted at a possible levelling out of wages across the Dutch postal sector.

The Economy Ministry is expected to update Parliament on the current difficulties that have created a temporary halt to a full opening up of its postal market.

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DHL Express restructures French operations

Posted by | Feb 26, 2008 | |

DHL Express is restructuring its loss-making operations in France with the aim of making a profit in the country by 2009 and plans to appoint a new country manager shortly, Express Europe CEO Scott Price told CEP-Research in an exclusive interview.

“France has been the most challenging,” Price said in reference to past integration difficulties in Europe. But reports that DHL might withdraw from France due to the losses were “ nonsense”, he said. “I believe France is on the way to a solid recovery. I believe this will be a very good year.”

Price confirmed a report in German transport newspaper DVZ that the operator has reorganized into three operating companies, DHL Express Services, DHL International Express and DHL Freight. “I believe this is the structure to enable us to achieve profit there by 2009,” he said.

A new country manager will be appointed soon while interim boss Klaus Pfab, brought in last autumn to reorganize the company after two rapid changes of top management, will continue to play a role, Price said.

Asked about potential acquisitions in Europe, the Express Europe CEO commented: “I do not see any need for any major acquisitions in Europe. ” But there might be “bolt-on” acquisitions to extend the company’s position, he added.

Reports of interest in Romanian parcels firm Cargus were “speculation”, Price said. But he noted that Central and Eastern Europe was the operator’s main growth region, especially Poland and Romania.

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