Letter from the Editor

EDITOR’S LETTER

We live in interesting times. Geopolitical and geostrategic factors are impacting confidence and exacerbating the already volatile and unpredictable economic environment. Growing awareness of impending environmental crises is generating increasing public and political pressure to make changes. And the mature markets are seeing demographic shifts that are having a profound impact on how both young and old see their roles in the workplace.

So interesting times are not good for business. Nowhere is that more true than in the petrochemical industry, which – at least in Europe – is coming under immense pressure to make changes and to do something about closing the plastics waste stream. Industry has been talking about environmental stewardship and sustainability for years – but the time for talking is over and it is now time to make some concrete changes.

The European Petrochemical Association’s (EPCA) Annual Meeting, which takes place this month in Berlin, comes therefore at a crucial time for the industry. While it may have recovered well in the past few years, after something of a slump following the 2008 financial crisis, that very success has helped to highlight some vital issues, and nowhere more so than in the areas of sustainable development and inefficiencies in the logistics sector.

It has been clear for years now that the petrochemical industry must work hard to attract, retain and develop young talent. In this, its efforts are in competition with other industries, which is bad news for a sector that has often struggled to present the sort of image that the young are likely to find attractive. And it is in youth that the industry will find the energy and the new ideas that will be needed to drive the transformation that is necessary – and increasingly urgent.

EPCA has worked hard in recent years to do something to change that image, by providing the space where its members can discuss the issues of talent and diversity in the workplace, and by promoting scientific and technical education in schools. But in this crucial year, EPCA’s Annual Meeting will also be looking in particular at developing leadership talent to drive the industry’s response to the need to become more sustainable.

Sustainability is also pressing on the supply chain and, while digitisation has made some headway in reducing inefficiency in the logistics function in recent years, there is still more to be done. The chemical supply chain in Europe has also been hit by infrastructure bottlenecks, with a lack of progress in improving the usability of rail, growing road congestion (not least around Antwerp) and disruption in inland waterway transport caused by more frequent occurrences of low water – something that may well be related to climate change.

All of these themes will be topics for discussion at EPCA’s Annual Meeting, which once more has drawn some very knowledgeable speakers and panellists. It has, as ever, also attracted a huge list of delegates, who attend as much for the business opportunities as for the speaker presentations.

However, this year more than ever, delegates should not miss the chance to sit in on those business sessions. The European petrochemical industry is in the midst of a period of fundamental transformation and businesses need all the help they can get to navigate what will inevitably be choppy waters ahead. HCB looks forward to seeing you in Berlin!

CONTENTS

VOLUME 40 • NUMBER 10

UP FRONT Letter from the Editor 30 Years Ago Learning by Training 01 04 05

EPCA SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Getting together What to look for at EPCA 08

The road to sustainability Talking to EPCA’s CEO Caroline Ciuciu 14 Plan your journey Dirk Verstraeten takes the lead 20 Gathering thoughts EPCA’s SCPC works on the future 25

STORAGE TERMINALS Change is gonna come Future on the agenda at FETSA XL Med Tarragona prepares for growth 34

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Advantage Antwerp Standic’s plans for new terminal 43 Ready to roll Oiltanking’s new focus 44 Stronger together Eddyfi adds phased array 46 Get back to work Fast recoating from Jotun 47 News bulletin – storage terminals 48

TANKER SHIPPING Get off the road Antwerp aims for sustainability 50 Hands in pockets Charterers face rising freight News bulletin – tanker shipping 52 56

TANKS Sensor sensibility Hoyer rolls out smart tanks State of play M&S’s view of the market 58

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Man Oman JTS expands out of UAE 62

Driving safety home Chemical Express majors on training 66 The Italian job Marcevaggi upgrades fleet 68 Bigger is better Van Hool’s jumbo tanks for BASF 70 News bulletin – tanks and logistics 75

CHEMICAL LOGISTICS Now try the best Log4Chem says 4PLs have a role 79 Swiss state sells share SBB commercialises freight 80 A new chapter VTG prepares for the future 82 Progress by partnership Blackmer pumps in Spanish market 84 Smart cooperation IMT strikes deal with NTtank 86

CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION Future days Fecc looks to youth Window shopping E-commerce with GoBuyChem Selecting the best Warehouse with ShareHouse 88

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Editor–in–Chief Peter Mackay Email: peter.mackay@hcblive.com Tel: +44 (0) 7769 685 085

Deputy Editor Alex Roberts Email: alex.roberts@hcblive.com Tel: +44 (0) 208 371 4035 Campaigns Director Craig Vye Email: craig.vye@hcblive.com Tel: +44 (0) 20 8371 4014

Commercial Director Ben Newall Email: ben.newall@hcblive.com Tel: +44 (0) 208 371 4036 Production Manager Binita Wilton Email: binita.wilton@hcblive.com Tel: +44(0)208 371 4048

HCB Monthly is published by Cargo Media Ltd. While the information and articles in HCB are published in good faith and every effort is made to check accuracy, readers should verify facts and statements directly with official sources before acting upon them, as the publisher can accept no responsibility in this respect. News bulletin – chemical distribution 94

INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING Perfecting production Schütz adds to capabilities 96

To cap it off Packwise smartens up IBCs 97 News bulletin – industrial packaging 98

COURSES & CONFERENCES Training courses 100

Getting clinical Clinital trials event comes to PA 103 Conference Diary 105

SAFETY Incident Log Silver medal CDI going strong at 25 Fixing a hole Labelmaster survey identifies gaps 110

REGULATIONS Devil in the detail Joint Meeting looks at tanks 112

Plus ça change Same enforcement issues at VCA 118 Read all about it Stay up to date with IATA 122

BACK PAGE Not otherwise specified 124

NEXT MONTH Steel drum manufacturing survey Storage terminal equipment news Focus on tank container depots IBC market developments

Managing Editor Stephen Mitchell Email: stephen.mitchell@hcblive.com Tel: +44 (0) 20 8371 4045

Designer Natalie Clay

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