News bulletin – tanks and logistics

NEWS BULLETIN

TANKS & LOGISTICS

DEN HARTOGH INTO MDI

Den Hartogh has revealed some technical details of the new tank containers it has taken into its fleet for the transport of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI). It chose two new tanks: 26,000-litre swap tanks equipped with an onboard heating system, and 28,000-litre composite tanks from Tankwell, both built to the standards defined by the European Diisocyanate and Polyol Producers Association (Isopa).

The hybrid heating system used on the swap tanks can keep product at the right temperature for up to 12 hours and is, Den Hartogh says, highly efficient. The tanks are also fitted with a two-way communication system that allows the company to locate and monitor the tanks and also to adjust temperatures remotely.

The composite tank uses materials that combines strength with a low weight. The tare weight of these tanks is 2,900 kg, around 25 per cent lower than comparable stainless steel tanks. The composite material also has very good insulating properties, reducing heat loss during transport.

Den Hartogh has also relocated its Brazilian office away from downtown Rio de Janeiro to a new, larger facility on the western side of the city. The Universe Empresarial building is, Den Hartogh says, very close to good hotels, a mall and the Olympic park and offers staff more space in a modern office environment. The address is: Den Hartogh Global Logistics Brasil, Av Julio de Sá Bierrenbach, 65/706 Bloco 1, Rio de Janeiro CEP 22775-028. www.denhartogh.com

A&R PICKED FOR GROWTH

A&R Logistics has been acquired by Chicago-based private equity firm Wind Point Partners. A&R, based in Louisville, Kentucky, is said to be North America’s largest provider of integrated dry bulk logistics solutions for the chemical and plastic industries. A&R provides a comprehensive suite of services including transportation, warehousing, packaging, and fully outsourced logistics management for many of the world’s largest producers and distributors of chemicals and plastics,” Wind Point notes.

“We are very excited to work with Wind Point to grow A&R Logistics, and we see significant opportunities ahead for our company, customers, employees and partners as we grow the business organically and through acquisition,” adds Mark Holden, president/CEO of A&R.

That growth strategy will focus on expanding transport infrastructure and A&R’s nationwide network of warehouse facilities. A&R says it will also “aggressively support its customers’ needs for export solutions by establishing what will become among the nation’s largest and most flexible export networks for plastics resins”, and will set up major facilities in Charleston and Savannah to handle the packaging and export of numerous resins. www.ardoingitright.com

VTG POWERS UP

VTG has started offering the rCE Powerpack for use in the carriage of refrigerated goods by rail. Aimed largely at the pharmaceutical and foodstuffs sectors, the system uses the kinetic energy of the wagon to drive a generator to supply the refrigeration unit as well as an integral telematics system that sends data on location, speed and other metrics to the shipper via the cellular network.

“The intelligent railCare solution enables us to make rail freight transport accessible for completely new kinds of cargo,” says Sven Wellbrock, managing director of VTG Rail Europe. “In doing so, we are not only improving our services for our customers, but also boosting the railway as a mode of transportation.” www.vtg.com

TRIFLEET ADDS MORE GAS TANKS

Trifleet Leasing has added 20 new 22,000-litre cryogenic tank containers to its fleet, designed for the transport of carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, argon and LNG. The 20-foot tanks are optimised for a higher payload, having a

lower weight than earlier tanks. The last of the new tanks arrived this month.

“As an established tank container leasing company, we entered the cryogenic business in early 2018,” says Philip van Rooijen, Trifleet’s managing director. “The feedback we have received so far from the cryogenic industry confirms our technical abilities as a reliable partner offering superior cryogenic tanks and equipment. This early success and the market growth expectations for cryogenic gases encouraged us to invest in additional cryogenic tanks, and we are ready to expand this specialised fleet further.” www.trifleet.com

SUTTONS GOES FOR WASTE

Suttons Tankers has agreed a new five-year contract with Tradebe UK, which offers waste reclamation and recycling solutions. Suttons will transport chemical waste to and from Tradebe sites in Heysham, Gwent and Knottingley.

“We’ve been working with Tradebe since 2015 and this updated agreement, which includes Syngenta, further strengthens our position in the waste sector which is a core strategy for the company,” says Michael Cundy, managing director of Suttons Tankers.

“We’re committed to recycling waste efficiently and this new agreement with Suttons will help our relationship grow even stronger,” adds Brendan Pope, business services director at Tradebe UK. “We know Suttons deliver an excellent service and we’re confident this latest deal will benefit all parties and provide other opportunities of working together in the months and years ahead.”

Last year Suttons acquired the trade of Bullard, a UK transport company specialising in the chemical waste and fuels sector. www.suttonsgroup.com

GREIWING EXPANDS IN DUISBURG

Greiwing has completed a €6m expansion of its Logport facility in Duisburg, adding 8,000 pallet spaces for the storage of food and pharmaceuticals. The work included a new hall with two silage areas to allow the decanting of goods from big backs and sacks into trailers in clean-room conditions. In order to offer customers from the pharmaceutical and food industry the greatest possible safety for their sensitive products, the new building has been designed in accordance with HACCP standards.

The Logport facility, located adjacent to an intermodal terminal, now offers 77,000 pallet spaces, including the 3,000 added last year specifically for dangerous goods. It also has a 44-tonne gantry crane and container tipping station. www.greiwing.de

TALKE ON TOP

Talke USA has been handed a 10-year contract by US petrochemical distributor Vinmar to manage logistics operations at its Houston site. The work covers the handling of plastics granules, including the unloading of hopper cars to silos, bagging, storing and loading product for onward transport.

The contract “serves to further confirm our strategy of integrating ourselves into the supply chains of our customers in the chemical and petrochemical industries by providing first-class, dependable and efficient logistics services combined with professional advice,” says Richard Heath, president/CEO of Talke USA.

RSA-Talke, Talke’s joint venture in the Middle East, has received the Energy Supply Chain Provider of the year award at the Logistics Middle East Awards 2019 while the Talke Group GCC was presented with the Excellence in Gulf SQAS Award at the 11th GPCA Supply Chain Conference. It is the first time that RSA-Talke has won Energy Supply Chain Provider of the year, and reflects its willingness to continuously evolve and implement wide-ranging solutions to assist energy majors and chemical producers address their most complex operational needs, the company says. www.talke.com