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Archives for October 2015

Menlo Supports Academic Achievement in Supply Chain Management

151026 Tilburg Thesis Award Winners

Menlo Logistics Thesis Award Winners (l/r) Lianne te Veldhuis, Aranka van den Berge, Maik van Vugt amd Gert Jan van Sluis, HR Director, Menlo Logistics.

Amsterdam – October 26 2015 — Menlo Logistics (Menlo), the global logistics subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), is continuing its sponsorship of the Best Thesis Award, chosen from the research work of graduates of the Supply Chain Management Masters degree program at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.

This is the fourth year that Menlo has given such an academic award, which is designed to inspire students to excel in the logistics arena and acknowledge high quality research in supply chain management. The 2015 best thesis award was presented at Tilburg University during the graduation ceremony of the new “Masters in Supply Chain Management”. The first prize went to Maik van Vugt for his paper about ‘Reducing Supply Chain Costs by Optimizing the Inbound Logistics’. Maik had tough competition from his fellow students, with the second and third place awards going respectively to Lianne te Veldhuis, her thesis was entitled ‘The Impact of 3D Printing on the Supply Chain of Kramp B.V., and Aranka van den Berge, who’s research was on ‘Supplier and Manufacturer Lead-time Reduction.’

In presenting the Award Menlo’s European HR Director, Gert Jan van Sluis praised the efforts of the students on the course, “Picking a winner from the course work theses of the students was a difficult job, such was the high standard achieved by them all. However Maik’s research impressed the judges with its practical application and thorough analysis. At Menlo we are constantly looking for process improvements across all aspects of the supply chain. It is heartening to see so much work being applied by students of supply chain management at Tilburg into pursuing similar aims.”

In underlining the prestige of the Award, Wendy van der Valk, Academic Director of the Master of Supply Chain Management Course at Tilburg commented, “From the viewpoint of both the University and the students, this award shows recognition and appreciation for the hard work these young professionals put in to achieving their diploma. We truly value the involvement of a partner like Menlo, and we hope to expand our partnership in the years to come.”

Support for, and encouragement of this sort of research at the higher academic levels in the logistics sector complements Menlo’s business philosophy. Menlo actively advocates professional training in the logistics field throughout the world. In addition to sponsoring Tilburg scholarship, the company also supports academic research and education at two major universities in the USA, and underwrites a scholarship and work internship program for students pursuing logistics degrees at Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore.

Menlo Logistics images are available at www.con-way.com/en/about_con_way/newsroom.

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

About Menlo Logistics
Menlo Logistics, LLC, is a US$1.7 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 Francisco, California-based Menlo 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 nearly 20 million square feet of dedicated warehouse space in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, and industry-leading technologies, Menlo Logistics creates effective, integrated solutions for the transportation and distribution needs of leading businesses around the world.

Menlo Logistics, LLC, is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), a $5.8 billion diversified freight transportation and logistics company. For more information, please visit us on the Web at http://www.con-way.com/en/logistics.

About Menlo Logistics Europe

In Europe, Menlo Logistics maintains 16 dedicated or multi-client Logistics Centres and Transportation Control Towers located in the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Hungary and the United Kingdom. This warehouse and transportation network can serve as a pan-European distribution solution, using one or several facilities.

4PL supply chain and transport management solutions, as well as 3PL warehousing, VAS and distribution services, are offered to a variety of vertical industry sectors, including retail and consumer, e-fulfillment, health care, e-returns, manufacturing support, data centre logistics, spare parts and aftermarket supply, and high-tech logistics. The European headquarters is at the multi-client Amsterdam Distribution Centre in the Netherlands. For more information, go to www.menlologistics.com/europe

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for New Eindhoven DC

151014 Groundbreaking Ceremony #1

(l-r) Philip Dunne, President Prologis Europe; Bram Verhoeven, SVP Benelux, Prologis Europe; Tony Gunn, MD Europe, Menlo Logistics; Staf Depla, Alderman City of Eindhoven and Robert Bianco, President, Menlo Logistics

Menlo Logistics and Prologis celebrate the development of their 70,000-square-meter logistics facility in Eindhoven, the Netherlands

EINDHOVEN — 15 Oct. 2015 — Menlo Logistics (Menlo), the US$1.7 billion global logistics and supply chain management subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), together with global industrial real estate developer Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD), today held a formal groundbreaking ceremony for their new 70,000-square-meter regional logistics facility in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

A time capsule was buried as part of the ceremony containing an artist impression of the completed building, a Polaroid picture of the ceremony and a newspaper dated October 14. Presiding over the occasion were Robert Bianco, president, Menlo Logistics; Philip Dunne, president Prologis Europe; Tony Gunn, managing director Europe, Menlo Logistics and Staf Depla, alderman City of Eindhoven. Guests included representatives of the two companies, customers of Menlo and local dignitaries. The formal laying of the building’s foundation, symbolized by pouring of concrete, has been preceded by work on the site, which is proceeding on a schedule that will make the facility operational by April of next year.

In welcoming guests, Menlo’s Bianco said, “In a way Menlo’s development in Europe has come full circle. We started operations here, not far away in Eersel some twenty years ago and just as the Netherlands and the Benelux region as a whole have risen to prominence as Europe’s premier logistics hub, so Menlo has followed a similar path. Today, we lay the foundation of our seventeenth facility in Europe at a location which is ideal for us to continue increasing the scope of our logistics capabilities.”

The logistics center is located at the Acht industrial park in Eindhoven adjacent to the A2/N2 Eindhoven ring road, which offers direct access to Belgium and Germany, as well as Amsterdam to the north. When completed, it will be one of the largest build-to-suit projects in the region. The expansion spotlights Menlo’s commitment to investing in the expanding market for quality supply chain management, warehousing, distribution and fulfillment services in the Benelux, and its growing prominence as a strategic logistics hub for central Europe.

“This transaction reflects the strong demand for Class-A facilities in Tilburg, Eindhoven and Venlo and further strengthens Prologis’ presence in this market,” said Bram Verhoeven, country manager, Prologis Benelux. “We are pleased to further our global partnership with Menlo in the development of strategic industrial real estate properties that provide high-value logistics services for local, regional and global businesses.”

Commenting on the development of the new investment, Menlo’s managing director in Europe, Tony Gunn, said, “As a multi-client, multi-discipline facility, Eindhoven will become our flagship location for the wide range of logistics services we provide to customers across the seven primary industries we service in Europe. These include high-tech, healthcare, retail and consumer, manufacturing and e-commerce. It will also provide jobs for over 200 people and is an ideal match for the needs of our strategic growth plans in the Benelux, as well as Europe as a whole.”

Menlo Logistics images are available at www.con-way.com/en/about_con_way/newsroom.

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

About Menlo Logistics
Menlo Logistics, LLC, is a US$1.7 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 Francisco, California-based Menlo 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 nearly 20 million square feet of dedicated warehouse space in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, and industry-leading technologies, Menlo Logistics creates effective, integrated solutions for the transportation and distribution needs of leading businesses around the world.

Menlo Logistics, LLC, is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), a $5.8 billion diversified freight transportation and logistics company. For more information, please visit us on the Web at http://www.con-way.com/en/logistics.

About Menlo Logistics Europe

In Europe, Menlo Logistics maintains 16 dedicated or multi-client Logistics Centres and Transportation Control Towers located in the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Hungary and the United Kingdom. This warehouse and transportation network can serve as a pan-European distribution solution, using one or several facilities.

4PL supply chain and transport management solutions, as well as 3PL warehousing, VAS and distribution services, are offered to a variety of vertical industry sectors, including retail and consumer, e-fulfillment, health care, e-returns, manufacturing support, data centre logistics, spare parts and aftermarket supply, and high-tech logistics. The European headquarters is at the multi-client Amsterdam Distribution Centre in the Netherlands. For more information, go to www.menlologistics.com/europe

About Prologis
San Francisco, Calif.-based Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD) is the global leader in industrial real estate. As of June 30, 2015, Prologis owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 670 million square feet (62 million square meters) in 21 countries. The company leases modern distribution facilities to more than 5,200 customers, including third-party logistics providers, transportation companies, retailers and manufacturers.

Photo Caption

(l-r) Philip Dunne, President Prologis Europe; Bram Verhoeven, SVP Benelux, Prologis Europe; Tony Gunn, MD Europe, Menlo Logistics; Staf Depla, Alderman City of Eindhoven and Robert Bianco, President, Menlo Logistics

 

DACHSER UK goes daily to Iberia

14 October 2015

Dachser Ltd in the UK has begun a daily direct road trailer service to and from San Sebastian (Spain) in co-operation with Azkar Dachser Group, the Dachser SE BUCK_Northampton_Y0C9502_2Group’s subsidiary organisation in Iberia.

Azkar Dachser Group’s San Sebastian hub acts as one of its key gateways for import and export freight distribution to and from the Iberian peninsula, connecting with a comprehensive network of over 69 locations throughout Spain and Portugal.

Dachser acquired the privately-owned Iberian logistics provider in early 2013, following a close working partnership with the company since 2008, during which time freight volumes grew significantly and an increasingly wide portfolio of customers across various industry sectors was served. That growth continues today, as the Iberian and European networks of the combined organisation become ever more closely integrated.

The new direct service from and to the UK will further improve lead times, and will provide a focal point for on-going business development between the two organisations.

“Our customers know very well that the promise of fast transit times means little without consistent reliability ‘, points out Nick Lowe, Managing Director of Dachser UK. ‘Our direct and daily co-operation with Azkar Dachser Group is an important development for us providing a seamless extension to our well-established, high-quality European network services and representing a strategic approach to the incredibly important Iberian market.’

‘Our export customers expect a high quality service throughout the whole of Europe, and the new daily direct connection between Iberia and the UK complements our extensive range of reliable logistics operations’, said Alfonso Hostaled, General Manager for Azkar Dachser Group’s Central & North region.

ENDS 

ABOUT DACHSER UK

Dachser UK is part of the Dachser group, a major international logistics provider which on 31 December 2014 generated total sales worth EUR 5.3 billion. 24,988 staff working in 437 locations worldwide handled 73.7 million consignments comprising 35.4 million tonnes. Dachser has been established in the UK since 1975, and now has three locations which include a brand new logistics centre in Northampton as well as branch offices in Rochdale and Dartford.

Dachser aims to be the supplier of choice for European logistics and value-added services. A fully-integrated European distribution network provides a comprehensive, high quality service of total freight solutions supported by the latest technology. Core services in the United Kingdom comprise European export, import and UK pallet distribution, as well as contract logistics services.

For more information, please visit www.dachser.co.uk

About Azkar Dachser Group:

Azkar Dachser Group offers its customers an efficient network on the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. Azkar Dachser Group has 1.1 million square metres of logistics area and a fleet of 2.600 vehicles. The company has a staff of 2,400 working at 69 locations.

For more information, please visit www.azkar.com

TT Club Reports a Stable Performance Despite Challenging Conditions

Leading Insurance provider to the international freight transport industry, TT Club has published a mid-year trading update for the eight-month period 1 January – 31 August 2015.

London, 8 October, 2015

Highlights:

  • US$116 million gross earned premiums
  • Total assets of US$492.8 million
  • Total surplus and reserves US$177.9 million
  • AM Best rating affirmed as A- (Excellent) with a Stable outlook
  • Return to normal levels of large claims
  • Forecast 2015 combined ratio of 93.8%

Charles Fenton, Chief Executive of the TT ClubCharles Fenton, Chief Executive of the TT Club, said: “the Club has had a good, stable first eight months of the year in spite of the on-going challenging insurance market conditions and a return to more normal levels of large claims than experienced in 2013 and 2014.”

The general environment in world trade during the last year as reported through Members’ turnovers has been slightly above the average seen in recent years, which, together with good new business acquisition, bolsters premium levels. The Club continues to benefit from excellent business retention. These positive effects are, however, counter-balanced by factors depressing premium rates, particularly resulting from low claims levels flowing from good Member records. As a result, gross earned premium for the period under review was US$116 million, a small reduction of 4.4% compared to the same period last year.

“The performance of attritional claims has been largely as expected,” continued Fenton, “Not surprisingly given our successful implementation of a strategy to rebalance the Club’s underwriting book.” However large claims have increased in number, Fenton reporting, “There are now seven incidents above US$1 million in the year, including claims arising from the explosion in Tianjin in August.” It is anticipated that this experience of increasing claims will result in a combined operating ratio marginally higher than in 2014, but still healthy.

AM Best carried out its annual assessment in May and, for the ninth successive year, the rating was affirmed as A- (Excellent) with a Stable outlook. In his review statement Fenton commented, “Best continue to recognise the support the industry demonstrates for the Club and noted the results of the customer satisfaction survey in 2014 which were the highest ever achieved.”

TT Club’s continuing investment in loss prevention includes detailed claims analysis from which derives risk management advice for Members and the industry at large. Safety issues remain of primary concern and major resource is currently focused on the question of verified gross mass (VGM) of packed containers, which becomes mandatory worldwide on 1 July 2016. The Club is proactively ‘teasing out’ the implications for each party in the global supply chain.

End  

Notes to Editors

TT Club

The TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services.  As a mutual insurer, the TT Club exists to provide its policyholders with benefits, which include specialist underwriting expertise, a world-wide office network providing claims management services, and first class risk management and loss prevention advice.

Customers include some of the world’s largest shipping lines, busiest ports, biggest freight forwarders and cargo handling terminals, to companies operating on a smaller scale but whose operations face similar risks. TT Club specialises in the insurance of Intermodal Operators, NVOCs, Freight Forwarders, Logistics Operators, Marine Terminals, Stevedores, Port Authorities and Ship Operators.

The TT Club is managed by Thomas Miller.

www.ttclub.com

Thomas Miller is an independent and international provider of insurance, professional and investment services. Founded in 1885, Thomas Miller’s origins are in the provision of management services to mutual organisations, particularly in the international transport and professional indemnity sectors; where today they manage a large percentage of the foremost insurance mutuals. Thomas Miller also manages insurance facilities for all the self-employed barristers in England & Wales, as well as trustees of pension schemes, patent agents and housing associations.

Principal activities include:

  • Management services for transport and professional indemnity insurance mutuals
  • Investment management for institutions and private clients
  • Professional services
  • Building defects insurance

www.thomasmiller.com

American Club announces investment in new Cyprus-based hull insurance company – American Hellenic

New company’s experienced executives, having worked more than twenty years in the hull & machinery insurance market, will now serve customers through an expanded global presence from offices in New York, London, Piraeus, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Dalian.

NEW YORK, OCTOBER 2, 2015: The American Club has announced a strategic investment in a new Cyprus-based hull insurance company, American Hellenic Hull Insurance Company, Ltd. (American Hellenic), as part of its continuing global expansion and diversification initiative. The new company will be managed by an experienced team of executives with over twenty years in the hull & machinery insurance market. The American Club’s investment will allow further expansion into the global hull & machinery segment enabling it to offer high quality insurance services and innovative customer solutions.

A Witte June 15 #

Arnold Witte, Chairman of the American Club’s Board of Directors

American Hellenic will be a Cyprus-based and licensed, Solvency II compliant, wholly-owned American Club subsidiary. It will be managed from Piraeus, Cyprus and New York, utilizing the expertise of long-standing professionals in the marine insurance market and will be serviced through specialists in offices located in seven major global shipping hubs with the ability to provide local market know-how and service to its customers, and to communicate in no less than eleven languages.

The American Club will now not only be able to continue offering first class marine protection and indemnity cover, but also, through its new subsidiary American Hellenic, will provide an expanded product line of marine insurance including hull & machinery, war risk, and mortgagee interest insurance.

Chairman of the American Club’s Board of Directors, Arnold Witte, in highlighting the significance of this strategic investment, said: “The Board of Directors carefully assessed the value of this business opportunity and voted unanimously in favor of supporting the American Hellenic hull insurance initiative. This is an historic moment in the Club’s long history and, through the dedication and ingenuity of the Club’s Managers and Board Directors, sparked by the idea of Board member Angelos Kostakos, represents a unique opportunity to prudently expand our market footprint, and bodes well for the future of the American Club.”

Vincent Solarino, President and COO of Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., Managers of the American Club also stated: “American Hellenic is an investment in the American Club’s future and is yet a further step in expanding and diversifying the Club’s product line. It is part of the Club’s overarching plan to significantly increase its revenue across a growing range of product lines, its tonnage across all lines, expand its market presence, while increasing its S&P rating. This is possible because the Club’s Directors and Managers have the grit, determination and initiative to make it happen”.

Joe Hughes, Chairman and CEO of the American Club’s Managers, concluded his colleagues’ remarks in saying: “This is one of the most significant developments in the American Club’s recent history. The transaction proceeded with the close and active cooperation of the Board of Directors of the American Club. I am certain that American Hellenic will prove to be a powerful force of growing energy within the international marine insurance industry. 

Notes to Editors

The American Club was founded in February 1917. In addition to its US headquarters in New York, the club is able to provide local service across all time zones, communicating in 11 languages, with subsidiary offices in London, Piraeus, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Dalian, and a worldwide network of correspondents. 

Menlo Takes Care of Intimate Apparel

The intimate apparel brand LoveStories is working with Menlo Logistics in Europe, trusting the supply chain management expert to care for its customers’ lingerie purchases

AMSTERDAM — 1 October 2015 — Menlo Logistics (Menlo) knows well from past experience that high-end fashion apparel needs great care and precision in its distribution to retail outlets and end users. Menlo, the global logistics subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), is now servicing these needs for the privately owned Dutch retailer of intimate apparel, LoveStories, supplying product to wholesale and retail customers globally.

LoveStories produces designer lingerie created by the Dutch fashion designer Marloes Hoedeman, and it is looking to Menlo to deliver a high-quality service that befits the expectations of its discerning customers. The global logistics specialist receives the inbound merchandise from suppliers around the world, including Italy, Turkey, China and other parts of Asia. A number of value-added services are provided at Menlo’s Eersel facility (near Eindhoven); these include labelling/re-labelling, price tagging, packaging and document inserting.  Distribution is global in extent to both wholesale and retail outlets and, crucially, while volumes are kept to a minimum, Menlo also provides reverse logistics services to the customer.

In commenting on the Menlo’s services, Marloes Hoedeman said, “The market for designer fashion items is relatively small but demanding and is growing throughout Europe. In addition to a top-quality product, the key to our success in this competitive field is a high performance delivery service and efficient supply chain management. Menlo Logistics fulfils our requirements in this regard to the highest standard.”

From Menlo’s perspective, working with LoveStories gives the company an opportunity to exercise its skills within the fashion apparel sector. Martin ter Harmsel, Menlo’s business Development Director, Europe, emphasizes this, saying, “At Menlo, we have developed an in-depth knowledge of the garment industry and a proficiency in managing the supply chain demands specific to the global fashion business. We are delighted to put these at the disposal of a burgeoning,quality apparel supplier such as LoveStories.”

Menlo Logistics images are available at: www.con-way.com/en/about_con_way/newsroom

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

About Menlo Logistics Europe
In Europe, Menlo Logistics maintains 16 dedicated or multi-client Logistics Centres and Transportation Control Towers located in the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Hungary and the United Kingdom. This warehouse and transportation network can serve as a pan-European distribution solution, using one or several facilities.

4PL supply chain and transport management solutions, as well as 3PL warehousing, VAS and distribution services, are offered to a variety of vertical industry sectors, including retail and consumer, e-fulfillment, health care, e-returns, manufacturing support, data centre logistics, spare parts and aftermarket supply, and high-tech logistics. The European headquarters is at the multi-client Amsterdam Distribution Centre in the Netherlands. For more information, go to www.menlologistics.com/europe.

About Menlo Logistics
Menlo Logistics, LLC, is a US$1.7 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 Francisco, California-based Menlo 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 nearly 20 million square feet of dedicated warehouse space in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, and industry-leading technologies, Menlo Logistics creates effective, integrated solutions for the transportation and distribution needs of leading businesses around the world.

Menlo Logistics, LLC, is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), a $5.8 billion diversified freight transportation and logistics company. For more information, please visit us on the Web at http://www.con-way.com/en/logistics.

About LoveStories

LoveStories opened its first boutique, which can be found in the heart of Amsterdam’s famous shopping district the ‘9 streets’ in the Summer of 2014.  The collection is also sold in boutiques and department stores around the world, in 28 different countries such as Australia, Italy, Spain, Norway and Denmark. Furthermore the full collection is available at the web-store.

LoveStories is the brainchild of multi-talented Marloes Hoedeman, who is first and foremost a fashion and interior stylist. Hoedeman began her brand in the hopes of creating beautiful underwear for herself. A combination of high quality products blended with an affordable price. Her biggest inspirations, which guide her creative process, are exploring and travelling the world, filmography and literature. http://lovestoriesintimates.com