Archives for April 2011

Copenhagen, 11^th June 2010

Performed by the crew of a giant Antonov AN-225, the biggest aircraft in the world, Geodis Wilson managed the transportation of two brand new wind turbine blades of its customer LM Wind Power. With a length of 42.1 metres the blades are the longest cargo pieces that were ever flown by an aircraft.

Geodis Wilson is one of the logistics providers of LM Wind Power, a market leader in the international wind power industry, supplying rotor solutions to numerous wind turbine manufacturers in all main markets worldwide. The two transported prototype blades were produced for a new type of wind turbine that extends the possibility of efficient generation of clean energy.

“Our new GloBlades^® are a fantastic step forward, conceived and developed by a global team of designers based in Denmark and Holland. The new blade type will help the wind farm developers take wind energy to new heights. These blades ensure reliable, clean electricity in lower wind areas for turbines at 1.5-1.7 MW,” Frank V. Nielsen, Chief Technology Officer explains.

Geodis Wilson’s Industrial Projects division has built up a specialist team to handle wind energy logistics. This record-breaking transportation involved a full turn-key operation including inland transportation from the LM Wind Power manufacturing plant in Tianjin to Tianjin Airport, China, intricate loading onto the world’s largest freight aircraft AN-225, customs clearance, supervision of unloading and final delivery from the Skrydstrup Vojens Danish Military Airport (SKS), the only Danish airport capable of handling this large move.

“Our activities in the wind energy sector are well known in the market, but the move of these prototype blades of LM Wind Power allowed us to conquer a new level of complexity,” explained Global Manager Wind Energy Projects, Henrik Funk. Philippe Somers, Senior Vice President of Geodis Wilson Industrial Pojects adds: “The fact that we have an established network presence in both China and Denmark, along with a dedicated air charter division, on-site expertise and technical support in this sector, certainly helped us to successfully manage this move for and together with LM Wind Power and Antonov Airlines.”

About Geodis Wilson and the Geodis Group

Geodis Wilson is a leading global freight management company. With 5,700 employees in more than 50 countries the company delivers tailor-made, integrated solutions to customers enabling them to operate as ‘best in class.’ Geodis Wilson manages cargo across five continents by sea and air, making supply chains transparent and flexible to manage. Geodis Wilson is the freight forwarding arm of Geodis Group which became part of the French rail and freight group SNCF in 2008. With its 46.000 employees in 120 countries ‘SNCF GEODIS’ ranks among the top seven companies in its field in the world, is no.4 in Europe and no. 1 in France.
 www.geodiswilson.com – www.geodiswilson.com/ip – www.geodis.com 

About LM Wind Power

LM Wind Power produces blades on or close to major wind markets to ensure local delivery of high quality, competitive blades. The GloBlades^® will be manufactured first in the Chinese market due to firm contracts with customers in this high growth market. During the coming months prototypes will be supplied to a number of Western and Chinese customers including companies like Envision and Goldwind. The first wind turbine powered by GloBlades^® will be erected in July this year. To ensure their durability, new LM Wind Power blades are tested in prototype form in full scale test facilities in Denmark. The two GloBlades^® arriving from China have transparent gelcoat instead of the usual white surface. This enables our engineers to see how the materials perform when put through the harsh tests.

The LM Wind Power Group comprises LM Wind Power Blades (former LM Glasfiber), LM Wind Power Service and Logistics (a newly established operation) and Svendborg Brakes, acquired in 2009. More information: www.lmwindpower.com

Antonov Airlines – AN-225

The An-225 belongs to Antonov Airlines and is based in Kiev. The plane has a nose loading ramp and kneeling undercarriage that allow it to easily load outsized and wheeled cargo. The plane was designed for the Soviet space program. The sole existing An-225 can carry heavy and oversized freight weighing up to 275 U.S. tons and single pieces up to 231 U.S. tons. The plane has transported project cargo including locomotives and 150-ton generators, and has also been part of many humanitarian relief programs. www.antonov.com

Paris, Amsterdam, 13^th July 2010

Freight Management specialist Geodis Wilson has named Alain Chimene as Regional Vice-President Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) – a newly-formed region poised to offer cohesive solutions to customers across a diverse range of countries.

EMEA, along with the Asia-Pacific and Americas Regions, delivers a unified Geodis Wilson offering globally to markets as they emerge from a trade downturn and seek user-friendly and effective freight management solutions.

Alain Chimene, age 50 and based in Paris, joined Geodis Wilson in 2001. For the past seven years has been based in Hong Kong, becoming Regional Vice-President of the Asian region in 2007, and gaining a reputation for building a strong business organisation for Geodis Wilson – a success that he is keen to extend to the new EMEA region.

Having stated his career in the freight services industry with Africa specialist Transcap International some 25 years ago, followed by nine years’ experience with forwarder Ziegler, Alain Chimene now oversees Geodis Wilson’s largest region. EMEA is accounting for 60 percent of the company’s turnover and 2,600 people – almost half its total staff.  ”Although many European markets are considered mature, there remains ample growth potential for the Geodis Wilson global network, through internal and external growth. Alain’s key priority will be development of the business at a rate that outpaces market growth while balancing that with cost-conscious improvements in productivity”.

In rising to the challenge Alain himself said, “This is what I call the efficiency of developments combined with the development of efficiencies. This will be achieved through building team spirit at every level. There are many operational advantages in this region, not least the skills of its people and a well-balanced airfreight and sea freight global activity. I believe that these attributes can be honed to provide our customers with real advantages through our EMEA organisation which will enable us to respond in a speedy and flexible way, particularly in terms of requests for quotations and tenders.”

ENDS

About Geodis Wilson and the Geodis Group

Geodis Wilson is a leading global freight management company. With 5,700 employees in more than 50 countries the company delivers tailor-made, integrated solutions to customers enabling them to operate as ‘best in class.’ Geodis Wilson manages cargo across five continents by sea and air, making supply chains transparent and flexible to manage. Geodis Wilson is the freight forwarding arm of Geodis Group which became part of the French rail and freight group SNCF in 2008. With its 46.000 employees in 120 countries ‘SNCF GEODIS’ ranks among the top seven companies in its field in the world, is no.4 in Europe and no. 1 in France.

Geodis Wilson’s EMEA region comprises four clusters: Southern Europe (France, Spain and the Maghreb countries of North Africa) under the management of Jean-Pierre Ennebick; Nordics under Peter Vallenthin; Central Europe (Belgium, Netherlands, UK and Germany) under Matthias Hansen; and Italy, Middle East (including Qatar and Dubai) and South Africa under Alain’s direct responsibility.

www.geodiswilson.com – www.geodis.com 

For further information, please contact:

Michael Zuchold                                                                                                       

Communications Manager Geodis Wilson                                          

Tel.: + 49 174 909 8788                                                                            

Email: michael.zuchold@hq.geodiswilson.com 

Atlanta, August 2^nd 2010

NEW SOUTHEAST REGIONAL MANAGER OVERSEES INCREASED SECURITY, AIRFREIGHT GATEWAY EXPANSION AND REVENUE GROWTH

Geodis Wilson recently expanded its Atlanta operations into a new, larger, state-of-the-art facility.   Designed to meet the ever-new and demanding regulatory requirements, growth and the increased demand for innovative supply chain solutions, the Atlanta location has moved to a facility encompassing 84,000 square feet (7 800 square meters).  The Atlanta operation provides air freight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, domestic forwarding, warehousing & distribution and other freight management solutions.  Geodis Wilson Atlanta is also a primary US air freight gateway to Europe, with regular consolidations.  “The newly expanded Atlanta facility will be a model for future growth and expansion in the US market for Geodis Wilson,” comments Nancy Costo, Chief Operating Officer Eastern USA.  

“The well established trend in manufacturing growth throughout the Southeast has been apparent for quite some time with increases in export and import activity,” said Joe Fordney, newly appointed Southeast US Regional Manager and acting Branch Manager for Atlanta.  “With our newly expanded warehouse and gateway, and with our enhanced security and compliance programs, we are in a prime position to service the market’s continually growing freight transportation needs in the critical industries throughout the area including automotive, industrial manufacturing, fast moving consumer goods, aviation and furniture.” 

Geodis Wilson has also invested in the necessary infrastructure in Atlanta to become one of several new Certified Cargo Screening Facilities (CCSFs) in the United States.  This significant investment provides Geodis Wilson with the equipment, facility, security enhancements and trained staff in order to provide shippers with a fast, efficient, secure, and predictable cost option for screening freight in compliance with the TSA’s (Transportation Security Administration) new 100% cargo screening mandate for all passenger aircraft.  

The new Atlanta facility is also home to an expanded airfreight gateway.  As the air export gateway for the Southeast US, the Atlanta branch has regularly scheduled consolidations to most major markets in Europe.  Geodis Wilson Atlanta serves as the airfreight gateway for the entire region, including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and parts of Florida and Virginia. 

“We’ve positioned ourselves to be a market leader in the rapidly changing 21^st century transportation environment with an emphasis on service, security and compliance,” adds John M. Gallahan, Regional Vice President Americas.   “Our investment and expansion allow us to respond proactively to the increased demand for creative and secure outsourced transportation, warehousing and distribution solutions.” 

About Geodis Wilson and the Geodis Group

Geodis Wilson is a leading global freight management company. With 5,700 employees in more than 50 countries the company delivers tailor-made, integrated solutions to customers enabling them to operate as ‘best in class’. Geodis Wilson manages cargo across five continents by sea and air, making supply chains transparent and flexible to manage. As the freight forwarding element of the Geodis Group, Geodis Wilson grew out of the merger of Geodis Overseas, TNT Freight Management, and Rohde & Liesenfeld.

In 2008 the Geodis group became part of the French rail and freight group SNCF. With its now 50.000 employees in 120 countries ‘SNCF GEODIS’ ranks among the top six companies in its field in the world, is no.4 in Europe and no. 1 in France.

With the recent addition of a state-of-the art facility in Houston, Geodis Wilson continues to grow and expand in the United States.  340 employees specialize in airfreight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, ground transportation and warehousing & distribution.  Geodis Wilson USA also specializes in aid & relief, air and ocean charters, marine logistics, aviation, pharmaceutical, oil & gas and industrial projects.  Geodis Wilson USA provides customers with transparent and easy to manage supply chains, thus enabling our customers to be best in class. 

For further information, please contact:

Michael Zuchold                                               

Communications Manager Geodis Wilson          

Tel.: + 49 174 909 8788                    

Email: michael.zuchold@hq.geodiswilson.com

Brian Bourke

Communications Manager Geodis Wilson USA

Tel.: +1 732 688 7345

Email: brian.bourke@us.geodiswilson.com

Iselin, NJ, USA, August 5^th 2010

                                                                                                                         
GEODIS WILSON RECOGNIZED BY “INBOUND LOGISTICS” AS A WORLD-CLASS,  CUSTOMER-FOCUSED LOGISTICS PROVIDER FOR 2010

Geodis Wilson was recently recognized as a Top 100 3PL Provider by Inbound Logistics.   “Readers tell us they are required to meet more stringent levels of supply chain performance to keep their customers satisfied. Clearly, customer service is fundamental in measuring 3PL excellence.  Geodis Wilson provides that level of customer service and that is why it has been recognized by Inbound Logistics editors as a 2010 Top 100 3PL Provider,” comments Felecia Stratton, Editor, Inbound Logistics.  

“We are excited to have been chosen this year by Inbound Logistics as a top-tier supply chain solutions provider,” states John M. Gallahan, Regional Vice President – Americas, Geodis Wilson, “We are building a strong, customer-oriented organization both here in North America and throughout the world.  As a result, we continue to win accolades from shippers, carriers as well as from the press for our innovative and award-winning service and solutions.”   

TOP 100 SELECTION METHODOLOGY 

Inbound Logistics’ Top 100 3PL Provider’s list serves as a qualitative assessment of the service providers that we feel are best equipped to meet and surpass readers’ evolving outsourcing needs. Distilling the Top 100 is never an easy task, and the process becomes increasingly difficult as more 3PLs enter the market and as service providers from other functional areas develop value-added logistics capabilities. Each year, Inbound Logistics editors select the best logistics solutions providers by carefully evaluating submitted information, conducting personal interviews and online research, and comparing that data to our readers’ burgeoning global supply chain and logistics challenges.  Inbound Logistics editors selected this year’s class of Top 100 3PLs from a pool of several hundred companies. The service providers selected are companies that, in the opinion of the magaine’s experts, offer the diverse operational capabilities and experience to meet readers’ unique supply chain and logistics needs.
About Geodis Wilson and the Geodis Group

Geodis Wilson is a leading global freight management company. With 5,500 employees in more than 50 countries the company delivers tailor-made, integrated solutions to customers enabling them to operate as ‘best in class’. Geodis Wilson manages cargo across five continents by sea and air, making supply chains transparent and flexible to manage. As the freight forwarding element of the Geodis Group, Geodis Wilson grew out of the merger of Geodis Overseas, TNT Freight Management, and Rohde & Liesenfeld.

In 2008 the Geodis group became part of the French rail and freight group SNCF. With its now 50.000 employees in 120 countries ‘SNCF GEODIS’ ranks among the top six companies in its field in the world, is no.4 in Europe and no. 1 in France.

With the recent addition of a state-of-the art facility in Houston, Geodis Wilson continues to  expand its footprint in the United States, employing  340  specialists in airfreight, ocean freight, customs brokerage, ground transportation and warehousing & distribution.  Geodis Wilson USA also specializes in aid & relief, air and ocean charters, marine logistics, aviation, pharmaceutical, oil & gas and industrial projects.  Geodis Wilson USA designs for its  customers transparent and easy to manage supply chains, thus enabling them to become best in class. 

ABOUT INBOUND LOGISTICS

Inbound Logistics the leading trade magazine targeted toward business logistics and supply chain managers. The magazine’s editorial mission is to help companies of all sizes better manage corporate resources by speeding and reducing inventory and supporting infrastructure and better matching demand signals to supply lines. More information is available at www.inboundlogistics.com

Copenhagen, 18^th November 2010

Geodis Wilson’s Danish Managing Director Allan Geert Nielsen has been recognised for his innovative approach to the industry by the country‘s leading freight and logistics companies and their customers. Mr Nielsen, who took over as Managing Director of Geodis Wilson Denmark in 2007, is a well-known figure in the Danish forwarding community, of which he has been a part for 25 years. He was voted ‘Decision Maker of the Year’ in Danish transport and logistics by a selected group of 130 top managers of the Strategy Square forum, part of the annual Strategi Torvet Transport & Logistic Conference, and the industry association Danish Transport & Logistics.

Prior to the award ceremony, invitees were interviewed and a shortlist of nominees for the award were presented to delegates. In the final vote, Allan Geert Nielsen beat other nominees from competing operators and was presented with the award. He was “positively surprised” at the accolade. Voters referred to his “overall purpose to create value for the employees and thereby for the customers and stakeholders,” and his readiness “with input and ideas and the ability to keep a cool head when the going gets tough.”

The award reflects that initiatives taken by Geodis Wilson in recent months have been favourably received by the market and have improved customer service and efficiency. “Today, the business is not only about moving freight, it is also about creating innovative solutions,” said Allan Geert Nielsen.

Recently Geodis Wilson started to underpin its presence in West Denmark, consolidating three port and airport offices into a single ocean and airfreight competence centre from next month at Vejle – a developing cluster for Danish industry. The 3 million € facility of 3,250 sq metres, equidistant from Odense and Aarhus, will employ 120 people and is strategically located alongside the E45 motorway with connections throughout Denmark and internationally via Germany.

Geodis Wilson in Denmark employs 220 people and is market leader in the airfreight and courier sector and a key ocean freight supplier.

About Geodis Wilson and Geodis Group

Geodis Wilson is a leading global freight management company. With 6,400 employees in more than 50 countries the company delivers tailor-made, integrated freight solutions to customers enabling them to operate as ‘best in class.’ Geodis Wilson manages cargo across five continents by sea and air and road, making supply chains transparent and flexible to manage.

Geodis Wilson is the freight forwarding arm of Geodis Group. A global logistics provider and wholly-owned subsidiary of SNCF Group, Geodis is a European group with a worldwide scope, ranking number four in its field in Europe. The Group’s ability to coordinate all or part of the logistics chain (air and sea freight forwarding, groupage, express, contract logistics, transport of part and full truck loads, reverse logistics, supply chain optimisation) enables it to support its customers in their strategic, geographical and technological developments, providing them with solutions tailored to optimising their physical and information flows. Geodis offers a range of logistics services that meet the specific needs of each sector of the economy. Across a network covering 120 countries, the Group’s 29,600 employees offer a wealth of multicultural experience, a genuine local service to their customers and outstanding flexibility. Geodis reported revenues of €5 billion in 2009. 

www.geodiswilson.dk – www.geodiswilson.com – www.geodis.com 

For further information, please contact:

Michael Zuchold                                                                       

Communications Manager Geodis Wilson                          

Tel.: + 49 174 909 8788                                                            

Email: michael.zuchold@hq.geodiswilson.com           

Hong Kong, 7^th December, 2010

The global multimodal service provider Geodis is gold sponsor at this year’s Automotive Logistics – India Conference taking place in Chennai, 8^th – 10^th December. Executives from the freight forwarding and supply chain management divisions, Geodis Wilson and Geodis Global Solutions (GGS) will be presenting at the Conference.  

As Gold Sponsor, Geodis will be hosting the welcome reception on the first night of the prestigious event, Wednesday 8^th December.  Geodis is supporting this conference at a significant time in the development of the automotive industry in India and sees the move as proof of its dedicated commitment to logistics services in both the sector and the region.

Thomas Blank, Regional Director, Sales and Marketing for Geodis Wilson in Asia-Pacific will be participating in session 2 of the Conference’s first full day (Thursday 9^th December).  He will present, along with colleagues from both the service provider as well as end-user sides of the business, including the CEO of Tata, Prem Verma, on the subject of the usage in India of third-party logistics providers by OEMs.

Geodis Wilson is the freight forwarding division of the Geodis Group and offers a range of integrated freight and logistics services on a worldwide platform and in particular takes a vertical industry focus on delivering supply chain solutions. Geodis Wilson’s representatives will be explaining to conference delegates how this startegic approach is applied by Geodis Wilson within the automotive vertical and to the Indian market in particular.

Geodis Global Solutions (GGS) builds global logistics and supply chain solutions, selects and integrates best value service partners, provides visibility and continuous cost optimistion within supply chains around the world. GGS executives have selected Automotive Logistics – India as a key event in the sector at which to demonstrate the division’s service skills and automotive experience.  It brings these attributes to bear in designing solutions for auto manufacturers, tier 1 and 2 suppliers and distributors. In addition, India continues to be a priority development region for both, GGS and Geodis Wilson.

ENDS

For more information on the Conference go to – www.automotivelogisticsindia.com

Geodis Representatives

Geodis Wilson

• Rene Bach Larsen, Managing Director, India
• Frederic Chapellier, National Sales Manager, India
• Peter Baumann, Global Director Automotive
• Thomas Blank, Regional Business Development Director  APAC
• Sophie Khaou, Communication & Marketing,  APAC

Geodis Global Solutions

• David Morel, Regional Business Development Director,  APAC
• Michael Hermann, Director Business Development,  Supply Chain Optimisation, APAC
• Jing Qian, Director Automotive/Industrial Markets, APAC

About Geodis Wilson and the Geodis Group

Geodis Wilson is a leading global freight management company. With 6,400 employees in more than 50 countries the company delivers tailor-made, integrated solutions to customers enabling them to operate as ‘best in class.’ Geodis Wilson manages cargo across five continents by sea and air, making supply chains transparent and flexible to manage. Geodis Wilson is the freight forwarding arm of Geodis Group which became part of the French rail and freight group SNCF in 2008. With its 46.000 employees in 120 countries ‘SNCF GEODIS’ ranks among the top seven companies in its field in the world, is no.4 in Europe

For further information, please contact:

Sophie Khaou                                                     

Communication & Marketing, Asia Pacific, Geodis Wilson        

Tel.: + 852 9199 2560                                       

Email: sophie.khaou@hk.geodiswilson.com                

Amsterdam, January 26^th 2011

Peter Baumann has been appointed Global Director Automotive at Geodis Wilson. He will be in charge of developing and expanding the Company’s automotive logistics business worldwide. The appointment supports the company’s global growth strategy. Geodis Wilson, a leading international freight management company, is enhancing its logistics activities in the automotive sector, as well as in the pharmaceutical and hi-tech industries.

Martin Svantesson, Director of Vertical Markets, commented: “I am very pleased that Peter Baumann is joining Geodis Wilson. The rapidly changing markets demand increasingly sophisticated and flexible solutions for vertically structured industries. Peter Baumann’s competence in automotive logistics will significantly enhance our ability to deliver such solutions and assist in the further expansion of our overall servicing of vertical markets.”

Peter Baumann, age 48, will be based in the Geodis Wilson office at Kelsterbach, Germany. He has extensive experience in the automotive logistics sector, having worked many years for companies such as Menlo Worldwide Logistics and DHL. Following completion of his studies in Transportation and Logistics at the Academy of World Trade in Frankfurt, he began his career at DHL, where he held the position of Global Account Manager, dealing with major customers in the automotive sector such as Robert Bosch. He went on to become Director of Business Development Automotive for Menlo Worldwide Logistics where he was responsible for developing automotive business in the Asia-Pacific region. He then served as Director of International Business Development in charge of Strategic Developments and Key Accounts at Menlo Worldwide Logistics and was leading the sales and marketing activities in South East Asia until joining Geodis Wilson.

ENDS

 About Geodis Wilson and the Geodis Group

Geodis Wilson is a leading global freight management company. With 6,400 employees in more than 50 countries the company delivers tailor-made, integrated solutions to customers enabling them to operate as ‘best in class.’ Geodis Wilson manages cargo across five continents by sea and air, making supply chains transparent and flexible to manage. Geodis Wilson is the freight forwarding arm of Geodis Group which became part of the French rail and freight group SNCF in 2008. With its 46.000 employees in 120 countries ‘SNCF GEODIS’ ranks among the top seven companies in its field in the world, is no.4 in Europe and no.1 in France.