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News bulletin – tanks and logistics
NEWS BULLETIN
TANKS & LOGISTICS
GREIWING BUILDS IN BAVARIA
Greiwing reports that its new warehousing and logistics facility in Burghausen, Bavaria (above) is nearing completion. The first part of the warehouse and the administration building is already finished and work has moved onto the second phase, which will deliver a 11,500-m2 logistics hall with space for hazardous substances before the end of the year.
“We are very pleased that we have kept to the planned timetable and that all challenges within the project have been resolved,” says Jürgen Greiwing, managing partner of Greiwing logistics for you GmbH.
The logistics hall currently under construction will have eight ramps for rapid loading and unloading and will be divided into three sections, each with its own fire protection. One will be equipped with a gas extinguishing system. Eventually Greiwing will be able to handle hazardous substances and goods subject to the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
Expected to cover 60,000 m2 on completion, the Burghausen facility in the ‘Bavarian Chemical Triangle’ is intended to handle contract logistics for Greiwing’s customers in the nearby chemical parks, connecting them to the wider world via the Burghausen Terminal for Combined Transport. www.greiwing.de
FASTER PLASTICS IN DALLAS
Katoen Natie has opened a new plastics packaging facility in Hutchins, Texas, just outside Dallas. The facility features a 262,000ft2 (24,340-m2) warehouse space, 220 hopper car spots and a high-speed form-fill-seal (FFS) packaging line with an annual capacity of some 270,000 tonnes.
The new site will also allow Katoen Natie’s customers to ship up to 25.5 tonnes per 40-foot container, and has the potential for substantial future expansion. www.katoennatie.com
HOYER HELPS BAYER
Hoyer’s Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) business group has broken ground on its new €8m container terminal at its Chempark site in Dormagen, Germany. The facility, planned in collaboration with Bayer, will have space for 624 swap bodies or 20-foot tank containers, along with six tank heating bays and a ground-controlled portal crane. It is due for completion by the end of 2019.
Locating the terminal in Dormagen Chempark will, Hoyer says, help reduce costs and simplify production and logistics processes for Bayer. Laden tank containers can be kept in intermediate storage until needed at the plant, keeping materials close to hand and reducing logistics costs by eliminating the need for off-site storage. The arrangement also cuts down on congestion on nearby roads.
“The terminal will relieve pressure on the space situation in our works, and processes will become more efficient. We greatly welcome the joint construction project,” says Jörg Sommer, head of Active Ingredients Bayer AG.
Hoyer’s SCS business group was set up to be able to offer a combination of the group’s logistics expertise with know-how in areas such as on-site logistics, the handling of dangerous goods and dry bulk logistics. It now operates at 16 locations in five countries, with its own intermodal and dangerous goods terminals. www.hoyer-group.com
SAFER SOLVENTS
The UK Solvents Industry Association (SIA), in collaboration with the European Solvents Industry Group (ESIG), has produced a 15-minute safety video, Safe Loading and Transportation of Bulk Solvents by Road.
The video is designed to support hauliers, drivers and site operators and to encourage best practice in transport, loading and unloading. It is now available in five languages from the ESIG website, www.esig.org
SUTTONS CELEBRATES
Suttons Tankers has won a multi-million pound extension to its contract with CF Fertilisers UK that will see it provide distribution services for all of CF’s bulk liquid and gas products. Suttons will transport product from bases in the north-east and north-west of England to locations across the UK. CF is responsible for supplying around 40 per cent of UK fertiliser demand.
“This contract represents a significant win for our tanker division, with the client recognising our significant ability and experience in handling and transporting their specialist products,” says Michael Cundy, managing director of Suttons Tankers.
On the other side of the globe, Suttons Japan, a joint venture established by Suttons International in 1998, has celebrated 20 years in business. The milestone was marked by a celebration, attended by John Sutton, CEO of Suttons Group, and managing director Barry McNally. Takemitsu Hayashi, managing director of Suttons Japan, said: “I’m so pleased that we could share this important event with our colleagues, customers and suppliers. We couldn’t have reached this anniversary without their support - in fact, a number of customers attending the celebration have been working with Suttons Japan since we started. I look forward to many more years working closely with Suttons International and building upon this strong platform we have created together.” www.suttonsgroup.com
BIGGER IN BRAZIL
Leschaco is planning a significant expansion in Brazil, with new offices due to open shortly in Itajaí, Santa Catarina and Porto Alegre. The move will extend Leschaco’s presence in the country, currently focused on the south-east of Brazil. The plans were announced by Constantin Conrad, son of the owner Jörg Conrad, during celebrations in October to mark 40 years of operations in the São Paulo area. “The business of Leschaco Ltda is growing sustainably despite the continuing economic crisis in Brazil and it is our goal to continue this positive trend,” he said. www.leschaco.com
GOOD YEAR FOR VTG
VTG AG has reported further growth during the third quarter, with group revenue for the first nine months of 2018 now 3.4 per cent up at €775.7m and adjusted EBITDA ahead by 4.5 per cent at €264.8m. Growth has been particularly strong in the railcar (revenues up 7.1 per cent at €413.5m) and tank container logistics (revenues up 6.7 per cent at €124.9m) divisions.
“Successful closure of the Nacco acquisition at the start of October 2018 also brings us to an important milestone for the Group, laying the foundation from which we can sustainably strengthen our market position as the largest private railcar leasing company in Europe,” says Dr Heiko Fischer, chairman of the Executive Board.
In tank containers, VTG reports “healthy capacity utilisation” levels in Europe and higher volumes of intercontinental traffic to and from Asia. However, EBITDA from the tank container division for the first nine months was lower than last year after shifting trade flows resulted in higher repositioning costs. “In addition, bottlenecks in road haulage and in the rail infrastructure in Europe also drove up demurrage and freight costs,” the company says. www.vtg.com
DEN HARTOGH’S TURKISH DELIGHT
Den Hartogh Lojistik Hizmetleri has become the first Turkish company to be audited according to the CDI-MPC quality and safety assessment, which covers the marine packed cargo supply chain. Den Hartogh’s Turkish operation was audited in its capacity as a tank container operator.
“We are very proud to be the first company ever in Turkey to complete the CDI-MPC audit,” says Kerem Gurler, general manager. “It clearly shows our commitment to our customers to always deliver high quality services with safety as our main priority. Our team has worked hard to achieve this.” www.denhartogh.com
