Tag: Europe

Pallet scanner boosts bottom line for DHL

Posted by | Aug 22, 2008 | |

DHL has installed a pallet measuring system at its international gateway in London Colney to enable it to weigh measure and scan large pallets quickly.

Angus MacDougall, DHL’s International Gateway manager, says: “When large parcels and pallets have a low overall weight, we calculate their shipment cost according to their volumetric or dimensional weight – the amount of space they take up in a vehicle or aircraft.”

“While measuring smaller parcels is standard practice in the transport and logistics industries, measuring large pallets is often very difficult using conventional technology, so their dimensions often have to be manually measured and recorded. This is obviously a time-consuming process and is not cost-effective.

“What we needed was a product that could quickly, reliably and accurately capture and record a pallet’s weight, volume and barcode information and transfer this information in a format compatible with our information management system,” he says.

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Deutsche Post may pay further three-digit mln dollar sum in U.S. revamp

Posted by | Aug 21, 2008 | |

Deutsche Post AG. may pay an additional three-digit million dollar sum in the announced restructuring of the company’s U.S. DHL business, Financial Times Deutschland reported, citing company sources.

The amount comes on top of the previously announced costs of USD 2 billion for the turnaround programme at the struggling unit, it added.

In May, the company said the loss-making U.S. operations of its DHL express unit will tie up in domestic and international airfreight shipments with United Parcel Service Inc. and will launch a cost-cutting programme.

The plans also involve the closure of a logistics hub at Wilmington, Ohio, while threatening up to 8,000 jobs at airline ABX.

Last week, Deutsche Post Chief Executive Frank Appel defended planned job cuts at the company’s U.S. DHL business, insisting in response to criticism voiced by U.S. politicians that the reductions are needed to turn the division around.

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Posten – Sales advance despite weakening economy

Posted by | Aug 21, 2008 | |

Posten interim report January-June 2008

– Net sales totaled SEK 15,595m (15,062)
– Operating earnings totaled SEK 1,165m (1,388)
– A strong financial position put the equity-assets ratio at 39pct (36pct)
– On June 18, the Swedish parliament adopted the government’s proposal to merge Posten with Post Danmark, and on June 12 the Danish parliament approved the merger
– Lars G Nordström was appointed new President and CEO

Posten’s net sales increased 4pct, mainly as a result of the acquisition of Tollpost Globe. Posten Logistics experienced organic growth of 9pct, while net sales increased 24pct including Tollpost. Stralfors’ operations in information logistics and graphics reported growth of 11pct. However, net sales for Posten Messaging fell again in the second quarter, decreasing a total of SEK 192m, or 2pct, during the first half of 2008. It is uncertain how much of a slowdown the economy will undergo and how that will affect the volumes in Posten’s core operations. However, we predict the negative trend in volumes will continue, mainly in mail operations as substitution accelerates. We are also encountering intensifying competition from international players in all core operations and across all markets where we are active.

Operating earnings totaled SEK 1,165m, SEK 223m less than for the same period the preceding year. Weaker operating earnings were attributable to lower sales for Posten Messaging and to increased costs of transportation and personnel.

1 USD = 6.37877 SEK

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French unions aim to block La Poste privatisation

Posted by | Aug 21, 2008 | |

French unions are preparing to launch a campaign of protests to try to block changes in La Poste’s legal status which are widely seen as a first step towards potential privatisation of the postal and logistics group.

La Poste president Jean-Paul Bailly is due to present a plan to the government in September proposing a legal restructuring from an autonomous public sector organisation into a limited company (“société anonyme”). This would then enable the French government to float a minority stake in the company while remaining the major shareholder with ultimate control. French media reported in early July that La Poste is working on plans to float a 20 pct stake to raise EUR 2 – 3 billion to finance its expansion plans. This would give the company a valuation of about EUR 10 billion.

On July 22, La Poste signed a public service contract with the French government covering 2008-2012 confirming the company’s commitment towards four basic service areas and preparing it for total postal liberalisation in 2011. The contract included commitments to mail deliveries six days a week and mail delivery quality targets, the maintenance of 17,000 postal service points across France, and public access to banking services. The contract was seen as an effort to calm postal unions which have always strongly opposed opening up La Poste to private investors.

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Postcomm welcomes appointment of Lucy Scott-Moncrieff as Commissioner

Posted by | Aug 21, 2008 | |

The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, John Hutton, has confirmed the appointment of Lucy Scott-Moncrieff as a Postcomm Commissioner for a three year term commencing on 1st September 2008.

Lucy Scott-Moncrieff qualified as a solicitor 30 years ago and is now managing partner at Scott-Moncrieff, Harbour and Sinclair, an innovative legal aid practice that specialises in acting for detained patients, prisoners, and children and young people with complex needs. The firm’s fee-earners work from their homes, which are all over the country, enabling them to offer services to their local communities whilst being part of an organisation with a national reputation which offers them full professional support.

Lucy is a member of both the Law Society’s Mental Health and Disability Committee, and its Regulatory Affairs Board. She has recently stepped down after four years as Chair of the Society’s Access to Justice Committee, which advises on legal aid matters.

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