IPC – Market Flash – Green issues
IPC – Market Flash – Green issues
Read MoreTag: Worldwide
Postcomm welcomes reappointment of Commissioner Wanda Goldwag (UK)
Nigel Stapleton, Chairman of Postcomm today welcomed the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform John Hutton’s reappointment of Wanda Goldwag as Postcomm commissioner. Ms Goldwag has been reappointed for a further three years.
Ms Goldwag has more than 25 years’ experience in direct marketing, and started her career at Yves Rocher, the multi-national cosmetics company. Since then, she has held senior posts at Fidelity Investment Management, direct marketing agencies WWAV and Smith Bundy, Thorn EMI, Thomas Cook, and the British Airways-owned Air Miles loyalty scheme, where she was executive director.
Postcomm’s work is steered by its seven commissioners, who, between them, have many years’ experience of business, competition, consumer issues, regional matters, mail operations, trade union work, regulation and policy-making, as well as working with government.
Read MoreGulf region to test RFID technology
In a project coordinated by Qatar’s postal authority, Q-Post and two other neighbouring Posts are testing various RFID (radio frequency identification) technologies to measure quality of service in the Gulf region.
Since the beginning of March, operators have been measuring transmission times for letter post between Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, using RFID chips read remotely and without direct visual contact, by means of seven RFID readers or gates installed in mail processing centres.
The project aims to study the process for integrating and interconnecting two separate technologies via some “semi-active” and “passive” 4,000 chips concealed in test envelopes. The three-month project will provide specific information on the combined use of different technologies for the UPU’s global quality of service monitoring system. Eventually, this system will use RFID technology to measure the time taken by the destination country to forward incoming mail to the final delivery point. This will enable a link to be established between quality of service and the rate of remuneration of the destination countries for the mail.
At the Postal Operations Council in January, the Quality of Service Project Group decided to go ahead with this system and to focus on the interoperability of different technologies. Various standards will be defined this year, and the global monitoring system will enter its first pilot phase in 2009. It will then be extended to all UPU member countries. As well as being a helpful tool for calculating terminal dues, this system could be used by operators to improve mail flows.
Read MoreTNT introduces new packaging line
TNT’s Express division is introducing a new packaging line designed to better protect shipments from damage, promote the TNT brand across the globe and support the company’s environmental effort. TNT, which produces 50 million packaging items per year, is first deploying its new parcels and satchels in Europe and the Middle East. The new envelopes are available worldwide. Sales staff has received special training to give customers packaging advice. TNT also provides a DVD to help customers choose the right packing.
The new packaging line offers customers more choice, ease-of-use and protection against damage. There is a proper parcel, envelope, tube or satchel for any shipment ranging from confidential documents to temperature controlled medical samples. For example, the new BubblePak (410×330 mm) has an inner bubble lining, making it quicker to send breakable goods. TubePak is designed for posters and MedPaks for medical samples. Choice does not rule out simplicity: each type of packaging is identified by a simple name and visual. All new parcels feature simple pictorial instructions, describing the best way to pack, seal and send items. Redesigned envelopes and satchels have perforated openings for easy opening. To reduce the chance of damage, envelopes and boxes are made of strengthened sturdy cardboard.
The highly recognizable packaging better promotes the TNT brand. The new packs boast TNT’s energetic color orange as well as bright, attractive close shots of sunflowers, oranges, goldfishes, sea stars, flower petals or butterflies. TNT also offers a new line of packaging stickers to better reflect its new services portfolio and help the packaging stand out.
The new packaging is part of TNT’s comprehensive environmental push. All cardboard envelopes and boxes are made of recycled materials and are recyclable. The new plastic satchels are biodegradable after two years. Each one of them bears an expiry date.
Read MoreExpress operators step up Latin America investment
Leading international and domestic express companies in Latin America have announced investment plans in recent weeks to build up their networks and add new services. Mexico and Brazil are the focus of investment.
DHL Express will invest about USD 112 million (EUR 72 million) in Mexico over the next five years (2008-2012) in new hubs, gateways, the domestic air network, the ground fleet, IT systems and other measures, DHL Mexico director general Luis Eraña told local newspapers.
Estafeta, one of the leading private operators in Mexico, will invest about USD 30 million (EUR 19.2 million) this year to expand its network, director general José Antonio Armendáriz told local media. The bulk will go on a runway extension at its hub at San Luis Potosí in central Mexico that will enable international flight operations. The operator also plans to add three small cargo planes to supplement its existing five B737Fs, and build new centres in Toluca, Morelia, Leon and Guadalajara.
In Brazil, private express company Rapidao Cometa announced earlier this month it will invest RUSD 32 million (EUR 11.8 million) in a 65,000 sqm new logistics centre in São Paulo to triple handling capacity there. The centre, due to open in the second half of the year, will act as a base for the company, whose businesses is mostly generated in northern Brazil, to expand in the south and south-east of the country. “In terms of business distribution by region, the company’s activities are disproportioned,” commented commercial director Américo Pereira Filho.
Brazilian express operator Mercúrio, owned by TNT Express, already announced at the start of the year that it will buy 100 trucks this year to expand its fleet, and will open new hubs at Rio de Janeiro, Fortaleza and Recife this year.
Meanwhile, Brazil Post has played down recent reports it might buy Variglog, the troubled Brazilian cargo airline, in order to build up a domestic air cargo operation instead of relying on commercial capacity. Describing Variglog as an “option”, its president Carlos Henrique Custódio told the newspaper Gazeta Mercantil that Brazil Post is also talking with four smaller airlines about “a new formation” to help its business.
Elsewhere in Latin America, TNT Express has started offering a new air service between Buenos Aires and Montevideo, connecting the two capitals each working day of the week. In Peru, Grupo Scharff, the local FedEx partner company, aims to broaden its portfolio by offering more FedEx products in the second half of this year. The company increased revenues 20% to USD 13 million last year from its FedEx-branded services, according to the El Comercio newspaper.
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