on the move Contargo

on thE movE

Established in 2004, Germany-based Contargo is one of the leading container hinterland logistics providers in Europe. Victoria Hattersley spoke to sales manager Marcel Hulsker about the different ways in which the company has grown and developed since it was last featured in Industry Europe in 2013.

The Contargo Trimodal Network, as its name suggests, incorporates three modes of transport throughout Europe: rail, road and sea. Furthermore, within this framework, there are another three separate components to which the Contargo network owes its success: its own terminals act as nodal points; its own barge and rail transport lines act as interconnections; and finally order processing is carried out by competent central and decentralised customer service organisations.

With a network of 26 terminals throughout Germany, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland, today Contargo employs over 900 people and in 2016 it transported 2.3 million TEU of cargo to achieve a total turnover of €415 million.

Customer-centric services

Contargo offers a comprehensive range of container services including local collection and delivery of containers by truck; maintenance and repair; and stuffing and stripping. The company also offers interim storage at terminals where required, and is experienced at handling many complex deliveries, from dangerous goods to specialist Reefer services. To ensure the smooth running of its network it operates consistent, integrated processes and IT systems and also takes on document processing.

Mr Hulsker explains how this enables the company to stand out in this competitive market: “Our integrated network is our unique selling point because we can offer almost any kind of transport solution: whether it is containers to Switzerland, the Benelux or elsewhere in Europe, we will find the right solution for our customers. Next to our everyday transport services we also try to offer tailor-made solutions wherever possible because we know that every customer has different needs.”

One example of Contargo’s ability to develop long-term customer partnerships is its on-going collaboration with Daimler-Benz, established in July 2015, through which Contargo operates Daimler’s 61,000m2 Logistics Centre in Speyer. This contract includes responsibility for the depot administration and the transport of containers by truck from the Consolidation Centre to the region’s inland waterways and railway terminals.

But whatever the customer or the service being performed, it is important for the company that it remains a ‘neutral’ provider. The sales manager explains: “For us, wherever the containers are discharged – Hamburg, Antwerp, it doesn’t matter – our service is the same wherever it is and that is what we mean when we say we are neutral.”

Alongside this, Contargo really does go the extra mile for customers by providing them, for example, with up-to-date on information on the latest truck fuel or low water surcharges – important since these charges can fluctuate a great deal throughout the course of the year. “We provide them with online tools to keep them updated with the latest on surcharges and we also send them emails about the current situations with a link to our website. This is another reason why strong communication channels between ourselves and clients are so vital.”

The company always looks to build long-term relationships with suppliers in order to further ensure the smooth running of its services. “Working with the right barge owners is very important, for instance. We have barge owners that have worked with us for more than 30 years and this is great because it means we can offer our clients a solid service; we are confident that even in times of low water and congestion our business partners will deliver and we are always on the look-out to build new long-term supplier relationships. For us, it’s about quality and trust rather than finding the cheapest possible provider.”

Investments and expansion

But Mr Hulsker is keen to point out that the company is never content to rest on its laurels when it comes to its service offering and facilities: further investments continue apace, as he tells us. “In Janu-

ary 2016 we started our own Contargo wheel services company and so we now run the trains ourselves with all the attendant risks. We have been expanding our terminals to increase capacity and are also continuing to build new ones.”

Two months ago the company celebrated the opening of its new 46,000m2 Emmelsum terminal with the first official container lift. This marked the completion of the Contargo Rhein-Waal-Lippe GmbH network and has considerably increased its capacity in Germany, while also relieving pressure on other terminals in the region – enabling it to provide an even more efficient service to customers in the years to come.

Alongside the above investments and strategic agreements, the company has also been expanding its Contargo Road Logistics services; for example, the fleet at its Hamburg-based terminal has been more than doubled from 60 to 150 trucks. The rail transport offer has also been further increased with the launch, in January this year, of a new rail connection between Rotterdam and Koblenz.

looking to the future

Moving forward, Mr Hulsker tells us that Contargo will continue with its programme of steady investment. “Hopefully when we speak within the next five years we will have expanded our number of terminals from 26 to 36 across areas such as eastern Europe and the Benelux in particular, where we do not yet have such a strong presence.”

As for any future challenges to be faced, he is very confident in the abilities of the company’s staff: “Contargo is on the move and we are actively looking forward to responding to any challenges that arise. We are a very strong team and we are always able to work together with our many business partners to come up with solutions.” n