Transport communications

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Archives for February 2013

GEODIS WILSON WINS LARGE 2 YEAR CONTRACT WITH DELSEY

February 28, 2013 by

Geodis Wilson will manage Delsey’s global logistics operations

Geodis Wilson, Geodis’ freight management division, today announces signing of a two year contract to manage the global logistics operations for international luggage manufacturer, Delsey. Geodis Wilson’s advanced solutions and global offering will reduce Delsey’s logistics costs by a significant percentage.

Geodis Wilson will implement a fully integrated logistics service with management of intra-Asia freight services through Vietnam and Southern China, contractual logistics with a permanent storage volume above 15,000 CBM and Full Container Load (FCL) deliveries worldwide to France, US, Latin America, Middle East and Asia Pacific.

The Geodis Wilson logistics centre is located in Shanghai’s Yangshan Free Trade Port Area. This is where 36,000 cubic meters (CBM) of Delsey products for import and export will be handled yearly, as well as round-trip FCL trucking from Yangshan port to the distribution centre and Less Than Truckload (LTL) domestic distribution with a yearly volume of 4,000 CBM to Delsey customers in 37 cities in China.

Commenting on the contract success, Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of Geodis, said: “This contract highlights Geodis Wilson’s strong presence in China’s competitive transport and logistics market. Our innovative approach will allow Delsey to increase productivity, reduce business complexity and optimise their supply chains with a single, best in class logistics provider.”

Delsey requires a cost effective logistics provider to support its global logistics needs for distribution across over 100 countries. Lucien Soldano, Global Supply Chain Director of Delsey said: “Geodis Wilson’s advanced IT and technical support through real-time, automatic status updates and optimised flow at modern logistics centers, highlights that the company is the best choice to meet Delsey’s demands.”

Geodis Wilson has been operating in Asia Pacific for over 30 years. It has a team of more than 2,100 employees in the region, striving to deliver ‘best in class’ customer service and performance. Geodis Wilson recently announced the expansion of its cross-border trucking operations into China, to meet rising demand among Southeast Asian customers, especially those in the high-tech sector. It is also committed to the growth of its Asia Pacific operations after announcing the opening of three new large logistics centres in China in 2012.

ENDS

Geodis: www.geodis.com

A supply chain operator and fully owned subsidiary of the SNCF Group, Geodis is a European group with global reach, ranking among the top four companies in its field in Europe.  The Group’s ability to coordinate all or part of the supply chain (air and sea freight forwarding, groupage/express, contract logistics, transport of part and full truck loads, reverse logistics, supply chain management and optimisation) enables it to support its customer in their strategic, geographical and technological developments, providing them with solutions to optimise their physical and information flows.  Geodis offers a range of logistics services that meet the specific needs of each sector of the economy.  With offices in 60 countries, the Group’s 32,000 employees provide a wealth of multicultural experinece, delivering a local service to their customers as part of a flexible, proactive approach.  Geodis reported revenues of €7.1 billion in 2012.

About Delsey

An iconic brand, Delsey is a French company and a creator of baggage since 1946. For more than 65 years Delsey has offered consumers cases which bring together quality and audacious design. Delsey creates ingenious baggage designed to accompany travelers wherever they go and to adapt to all types of journey, both professional and personal. Its strength grounded in its expertise, the brand is behind numerous innovations recognized by important awards in the design world. Delsey brings together style and functionality to create products that reflects the personality of each consumer. Today Delsey is present in all 5 continents and in more than 130 countries. A Delsey bag is sold every 10 seconds.

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” Line Enhances JASECO Services

February 25, 2013 by

KAWASAKI KISEN KAISHA, LTD. (“K” Line) is pleased to announce upgrade of its Intra-Asia Service with improved transit times and better coverage between Japan and Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.

Details of the service are as follows:-

  • Vessel Deployment

JASECO-4: Four (4) x 2600 TEU type vessels

JASECO-5: Four (4) x 2600 TEU type vessels

  • Port Rotation:

JASECO-4: Tokyo – Yokohama – Shimizu – Yokkaichi – Nagoya – Kobe – Manila – Singapore – Port Kelang – Jakarta – Singapore – Hong Kong – Tokyo

JASECO-5: Osaka – Nagoya – Shimizu – Tokyo – Yokohama – Singapore – Jakarta – Singapore – Manila – Osaka

  • Current

JASECO-4: Osaka – Shimizu – Tokyo – Yokohama – Nagoya – Kobe – Manila – Singapore – Port Kelang – Jakarta – Singapore – Manila – Osaka

  • Commencement Date:

JASECO-4 SB: 27th of March ETA Tokyo

JASECO-5 SB: 27th of March ETA Osaka

JASECO-4 NB: 12th of April ETA Jakarta

JASECO-5 NB: 11th of April ETA Jakarta

Filed Under: "K" Line

CLIQ Digital Selects ModusLink for Mobile Gaming and Entertainment Applications Support

February 21, 2013 by

—Multilingual contact center to deliver regional support for CLIQ’s expansion in Asia—

WALTHAM, Mass., and DÜSSELDORF, Germany—Feb. 21, 2013—ModusLink Global Solutions™ Inc. (NASDAQ: MLNK) and  CLIQ Digital announced an agreement today for ModusLink to provide live support services for CLIQ Digital’s mobile entertainment and gaming customers across Asia.

CLIQ Digital’s products include free and premium games, content subscriptions and advertising and lead-generation programs. From a single centralized contact center in Singapore, ModusLink will manage incoming technical and billing questions from CLIQ’s customers throughout the region in English, Bahasa, Mandarin and Cantonese.

“CLIQ Digital is a fast-growing, international company and our apps are designed for multiple mobile operating systems and hardware platforms,” said Thomas Kothuis, chief operating officer, CLIQ Digital. “We need a customer support infrastructure that can manage this high number of variables and that can also grow with us. We were impressed by ModusLink’s ability to quickly add languages and capacity to the Singapore contact center as we expand our footprint in the Asian market.”

“ModusLink’s contact center will automatically match the location of an incoming number with the right agent, so that CLIQ Digital’s customers can communicate in their native language and quickly have issues resolved,” said Scott Crawley, president, global operations, sales and marketing, ModusLink. “Timely resolution is important; however, our approach to customer care logistics goes a step further as we focus on thorough and non-scripted interactions with customers as opposed to volume-based metrics. We expect CLIQ Digital can build brand loyalty among its customers with this high-quality, targeted support service.

ModusLink’s extensive range of Customer Care services, including customer loyalty initiatives, product marketing programs and returns management, provide additional value to the post-sale supply chain and help maintain company and brand reputation.

Additional Resources

About ModusLink Global Solutions

ModusLink Global Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: MLNK) executes comprehensive supply chain and logistics services that improve clients’ revenue, cost, sustainability and customer experience objectives. ModusLink is a trusted and integrated provider to the world’s leading companies in consumer electronics, communications, computing, medical devices, software, luxury goods and retail. The Company’s operating infrastructure annually supports more than $80 billion of its clients’ revenue and manages approximately 470 million product shipments through more than 30 sites in 15 countries across North America, Europe, and the Asia/Pacific region. For details on ModusLink’s flexible and scalable solutions visit www.moduslink.com and www.valueunchained.com, the blog for supply chain professionals.

About CLIQ Digital

CLIQ Digital, which is based in Düsseldorf, Germany, is a leading provider of games and mobile entertainment. As a marketer and publisher of games and other mobile value-added services, the Group is active in over 50 countries, especially through the channel of direct sales to end customers. CLIQ Digital has been establishing its Online & Freemium Games division since July 2010, and also its Freemium Mobile Games division since the end of 2011. The company was founded as Bob Mobile AG in 2005. A decisive growth step was taken in 2012 with acquisition of Dutch company CLIQ B.V. CLIQ provided the basis of the name of the newly positioned Group, which focuses on continuous and profitable growth through expanding into new countries, extending its games portfolio, as well as corporate acquisitions. The Company is listed in the Entry Standard segment of Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Filed Under: Modus Link

Kim Pedersen becomes Executive Vice-President of Geodis Wilson

February 21, 2013 by

Clichy, February, 21st 2013

Kim Pedersen, Executive Vice-President, Geodis Wilson

Kim Pedersen, 47, has been appointed Executive Vice President of Geodis Wilson. Starting March 1st, 2013, he will be heading the global Freight Forwarding division of Geodis. In taking this position he also becomes a member of the group’s executive management.

“In Kim Pedersen we have a person at the top of our freight forwarding activities who brings the capabilities, the experience and most importantly the right mindset to lead this important business unit of Geodis further into areas of strong and sustainable growth on a global scale”, says Marie Christine Lombard, CEO of Geodis.

Geodis Wilson today generates more than 37% of the group’s revenue and increased its turnover in 2012 to 2,64bn € (2011: 2,39bn €). The division employs 7,700 people worldwide, located in 240 offices spread over 50 countries on all continents.

“Our focus is on the international markets that drive our customers growth, comments Kim Pedersen. “The dynamics of a volatile global economy forces our clients to a high level of adaptability when it comes to their supply chains. Our constant drive towards innovation in freight forwarding is the key differentiator to master their challenge. It drives our clients’ and subsequently our success.”

Kim Pedersen joined Geodis Wilson in 1994 (former Wilson Logistics). He became Managing Director in Denmark and later on Regional Vice President of the entire Scandinavian organisation. In 2009, he was appointed Deputy CMO and subsequently joined the Board of Management as global head of Sales & Marketing of Geodis Wilson.

ENDS

Geodis: a global logistics provider – www.geodis.com

A global logistics provider and wholly-owned subsidiary of SNCF Group, Geodis is a European company 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 coordination and optimisation) enables it to support its customers in their strategic, geographical and technological developments, providing them with solutions tailored to optimising their material 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 31,000 employees offer a wealth of multicultural experience, a genuine local service to their customers and outstanding flexibility. Geodis reported revenues of €7.1 billion in 2012.

Geodis Wilson represents the freight forwarding business of the group, providing integrated logistics services around the core products air and ocean freight. The division has a globally recognized unit for heavy lift operations and industrial projects, namely in the oil & gas and the energy sector

Filed Under: GEODIS

Menlo Grows its Logistics Offering in the Medical Device Sector

February 21, 2013 by

Amsterdam, 14 February 2013

Menlo Worldwide Logistics (Menlo) is the global logistics subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW) providing supply chain management services to a variety of manufacturing and retail industries.  Menlo’s recent growth in the healthcare sector and, in particular in the supply chain management of medical devices has been further confirmed by the contract signing for logistics service provision in Europe to specialist defibrillator manufacturer, Physio Control.

Physio-Control, owned by private equity company Bain Capital, is the world leader in the development, manufacture, sale and service of external defibrillators, monitors and emergency medical response products.  It supplies tools of the highest quality to help clinicians and emergency responders, throughout the world.

Menlo will utilise its multi-user facility in Maastricht (Netherlands) to manage and stage Physio Control’s inbound inventory for Europe, coming chiefly from the US.  At the Maastricht Logistics Centre Menlo will then carry-out light assembly work, managing warehouse services and fulfilling orders for delivery throughout Europe.  The facility is a focus for Menlo’s particular propensity to process medical devices and the skill-sets especially required to manage such complex supply chains.

Physio Control’s Director, CPR Products Operations/EMEA Supply Chain, Project Lead Paul Rasmusson commented on the arrangement, “Menlo’s multi-user option at Maastricht played a large part in our decision.  We foresee significant cost-savings resulting from the flexibility this facility affords. Menlo is also reassuringly reactive to our changing supply chain needs, a consequence I believe of their commitment to continuous improvement inherent in the Lean philosophy that runs throughout the organisation.”

The need for precision in delivery performance and efficiency throughout its supply chain is self-evident with products of this nature and Menlo’s track record in handling medical devices and other healthcare products was a primary reason for Physio Control to choose the logistics supplier for its European distribution and transport management, commented Mr. Rasmusson.

Menlo’s service provision also includes Physio Control staff embedded in the Menlo operation to ensure the most efficient of client-supplier communication and rapid response to the challenging dynamics of the market.

In welcoming the expansion in Menlo business in the sector, Managing Director Europe, Tony Gunn, said, “The medical device market has many demanding facets.  We feel that Menlo’s particular culture of a long-term approach to customer relationships and our ability to adapt to their changing needs is particularly relevant to this sector.   What we are able to provide for Physio Control at Maastricht is not a just a state-of-the art facility but the opportunity to plug straight into established competencies and infrastructure without undue investment- and that is what 3PL benefits are all about,” he added.

ENDS

About Menlo Worldwide Logistics Europe

In Europe Menlo Worldwide Logistics maintains seventeen dedicated and multi-client logistics centers located in the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom. This warehouse network can serve as pan-European distribution solution using one or several facilities.

Supply chain and transport management solutions as well as 3PL, warehousing and distribution services are offered to a variety of vertical industry sectors including: fashion & apparel; healthcare and medical equipment; hi-tech electronic and data network equipment; automotive; defence and government services and retail e-fulfilment.

The European headquarters is at the multi-client Amsterdam Distribution Centre in the Netherlands.

About Menlo Worldwide Logistics
Menlo Worldwide Logistics, LLC, is a US$1.4 billion global provider of logistics, transportation management and supply chain services with operations in five continents, including North America. As a third-party logistics provider, San Mateo, Calif.-based Menlo Worldwide Logistics’ services range from dedicated contract logistics to warehouse and distribution management, transportation management, supply chain reengineering and other value-added services including packaging, kitting, order fulfillment and light assembly through a strategic network of multi-client and dedicated facilities. With more than 16 million square feet of dedicated warehouse space in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, and industry-leading technologies, Menlo Worldwide Logistics creates effective, integrated solutions for the transportation and distribution needs of leading businesses around the world.

Menlo Worldwide Logistics, LLC, is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), a $5.0 billion diversified freight transportation and logistics company. For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.con-way.com.

Follow Menlo Worldwide Logistics on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MenloLogistics

Filed Under: Menlo Logistics

TT Club Sees Innovation Proliferate in the Logistics Sector

February 11, 2013 by

11 February 2013

Leading insurance specialist in the global freight industry, TT Club reports that innovation in the logistics sector is on the rise.  The insurer, which provides cargo, property and liability cover to freight forwarders and logistics companies, observes that the adoption of technological capabilities and tailored supply chain processes is proliferating.

A long-term supporter of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) Awards, TT Club sponsored the 2012 European Logistics Award.  TT Club’s Development Director for UK and Ireland, Brian Sullivan was part of the judging panel that employed a stringent vetting process to find the winner, Delamode International Logistics.  The award was presented by Sullivan at a ceremony in London last month.

This experience, along with the Club’s detailed knowledge of its customers’ supply chain services, has convinced Sullivan of the current proliferation of innovation in the sector and a trend away from rate-driven commoditisation.  “Many in the freight transport industry feel that pressure on rates from customers has shorn the operator of the necessary resource to deliver the added-value elements that distinguishes logistics from the straightforward  ‘A to B’ transportation of freight.  As a result of my own and the Club’s experience, I would contest this view,” comments Sullivan.

TT Club is certainly seeing more extensive services being provided by its customers.  Many companies that in the past offered traditional freight forwarding now take on a much higher degree of supply chain risk and sustain greater liability by providing increasingly complex and sophisticated services.

The trend is however seen as positive.  The increased complexity of service offerings and the ingenuity of operators in designing alternative supply chain solutions is enabling the mid-sized, regional-based supplier to compete with their larger multi-national colleagues.  In acknowledging the success of award-winner Delamode, Sullivan points to a good example of this trend, “By re-engineering  supply chains  from Eastern Europe to the UK, Delamode allowed garment manufacturers to compete on price and service with low cost manufacturers from Asia.  Moreover, their successful service and pricing levels allowed small volume customers access to their service.”

TT Club recognises the need to support and reward quality innovation in the industry and has been a sponsor of the BIFA awards since their inception nearly twenty years ago.  By the very nature of the insurance services it provides, the Club is at the heart of the supply chain industry and consequently, is able to monitor the dynamic trends that are always at play as logistics operators strive to improve their service offerings to meet market demands.

Filed Under: TT Club

“K” Line News Release: Shipping Industry Provides Funding to UNDP Job Creation Initiative in Somalia

February 11, 2013 by

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line), Shell, BP, Maersk, Stena, NYK and MOL have announced today their joint collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support job creation and capacity building projects in Somalia.  The industry partners will provide funding of US$ 1.0 million to the UNDP.  The UNDP will oversee the distribution of the funds from 2013.

This collaboration between many in the shipping industry and UNDP is the first step in an initiative, launched in February 2012, designed to make a contribution to the rebuilding of a stable Somalia and thus reduce the risk of piracy to seafarers in the Indian Ocean.

The UNDP has been selected as a collaborator because of its existing footprint in coastal and city centres in Somalia and the alignment of the objectives of the shipping industry partners with those of the UNDP’s “Alternative Livelihoods to Piracy in Puntland and Central Regions” project.

The UNDP will focus on supporting long-term youth employment with the aim of providing viable employment alternatives to piracy for Somalia’s youth in the agriculture, livestock and fishing industries.  For example, this funding will support the creation of a business development centre for local entrepreneurs.  The funding will also help the UNDP to build up local youth facilities to encourage community collaboration and mutual support.  Our hope is that this initiative led by the shipping industry will facilitate establishing the foundation for a future generation in Somalia that has choices and no longer supports or condones piracy.

The shipping industry initiative intend to make available additional funding of US$1.5 million to support other capacity building projects in Somalia and this will be the subject of a further announcement.

For further information, please contact:

Kiyokazu Arai

General Manager, General Affairs Group

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. Tokyo

TEL: 81-3-3595-5152 FAX: 81-3-3595-6076

Filed Under: "K" Line

“K” Line’s Triple Decker Motorcycle Carrier has Landed in India

February 7, 2013 by

Spanning a Bridge between India and Indonesia

“K” Line (India) Private Limited, “K” Line’s subsidiary company in India, launched transportation by Triple Decker Motorcycle Carrier (3-level motorbike carrier) from the distribution center of a motorcycle manufacturer in the Delhi area to its domestic depot. The company had started trial operations in November 2012, and can now provide regular steady service.

The first Triple Deck Motorcycle Carrier was initially developed by “K” Line’s subsidiary in Indonesia jointly with an Indonesian manufacturer, and was used in short-distance road transportation from a motorcycle manufacturer in Jakarta to its domestic depot, and has currently advanced to long-distance transport efficiency with greater CO2 reduction.

This newly-introduced operation demonstrates another advancement in customer-based services through anticipating customer needs by utilizing strong local ties, which is the concept of “K” Line’s logistics business, and has now crossed the ocean from Indonesia to India, adding another link in the “K” Line global network.  We will also continue to further expand this business to other Asian countries in the near future.

Filed Under: "K" Line