AUSTRALIAN LOGISTICS SHAPING
AUSTRALIAN LOGISTICS SHAPING
Connecting people and goods across the country and beyond, Kuehne+Nagel Australia is internationally renowned for its supply chain optimisation. Francis Murugan, Managing Director, and François Sellin, Global Lead Mining, delve into the company’s industry-leading logistics and mining solutions
Writer: Lucy Pilgrim
Having established itself as a vital nation for international trade, the Australian freight forwarding and logistics landscape is a mainstay of the country’s economy.
At the head of the industry since 1971, Kuehne+Nagel Australia provides unparalleled freight forwarding and supply chain solutions across the world.
Indeed, its operational expanse is unlocked by the international network of leading logistics provider, Kuehne+Nagel, encompassing 135 years of expertise.
Established by August Kuehne and Friedrich Nagel in 1890, the humble shipping business has evolved to
become a critical global logistics partner that offers highly specialised solutions for major industries worldwide.
Headquartered in Switzerland, Kuehne+Nagel ensures that urgent logistics needs are efficiently met.
“Our primary focus is to support the business needs of our valued customers by offering solutions to their challenges,” opens Francis Murugan, Managing Director of Kuehne+Nagel Australia.
The nation’s mining industry is a cornerstone of its economy, driving innovation, exports, and sustainable resource development. This leads to innovation by optimising supply
chains, prioritising health, safety, and environment (HSE) standards, and advancing towards a zero-carbon future.
“Kuehne+Nagel ensures that mining and energy companies can maintain efficient, safe, and sustainable operations, even in challenging and remote environments,” introduces François Sellin, Global Lead Mining at Kuehne+Nagel, who is responsible for mining business development worldwide.
Indeed, the organisation has successfully developed business in collaboration with a handful of the world’s major mining companies.
“No matter which industry you operate in, our team can assist. Our logistics experience and cross-industry knowhow give us valuable insights into how to improve customers’ needs”
– FRANCIS MURUGAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, KUEHNE+NAGEL
AUSTRALIA
“Kuehne+Nagel supports all stages of the lifecycle of mines and provides customised solutions from exploration through to construction, operation, and closure,” he highlights.
SUPPLY CHAIN OPTIMISATION
Francis Murugan has amassed a vast pool of knowledge from his 30+ years in the industry, collating international experience in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
He was exposed to logistics from a young age when he worked as an apprentice, providing a cross section
of the industry landscape.
As such, Francis Murugan is able to leverage his impressive background and experience to lead Kuehne+Nagel Australia’s strong market position in sea and air freight as well as contract and road logistics.
The company’s unmatched industry position is achieved by providing a highly comprehensive and impartial analysis of customers’ entire supply chains that efficiently identifies opportunities for optimisation.
“No matter which industry you operate in, our team can assist. Our
logistics experience and crossindustry know-how give us valuable insights into how to improve customers’ needs,” affirms Francis Murugan.
Indeed, Kuehne+Nagel Australia goes above and beyond to support businesses with both international and domestic supply chain optimisation projects.
From a mining and industrial perspective, Kuehne+Nagel addresses the demands of the mining and energy sectors by offering tailored solutions that emphasise
safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
The company’s integrated freight solutions, for instance, provide many multimodal transport options for customers’ supply chains, including break bulk, sea, and air charters that ensure the timely and secure delivery of equipment and materials to remote locations.
Moreover, Kuehne+Nagel’s engineering expertise offers a range of cutting-edge services including 3D model simulations, route surveys, and lifting plans to manage the complexities of transporting
oversized and heavy cargo.
The company additionally utilises digital platforms to provide real-time tracking and analytics, enhancing end-to-end operational visibility and aiding decision-making.
Furthermore, Kuehne+Nagel designs and operates supply chains that support clients’ sustainability goals, including reducing carbon footprints and promoting the use of renewable energy resources.
CONNECTING THE NATION
Comprising a workforce of over 650
KUEHNE+NAGEL –IN NUMBERS
• 400,000 customers trust the company to manage their logistics
• Almost 1,300 international locations ensure that Kuehne+Nagel remains close to its customers
• Close to 100 countries are connected by a strong network
• 80,000+ logistics and supply chain professionals
• Number 1 sea and air freight forwarder in the world
dedicated employees, Kuehne+Nagel Australia offers nationwide teams of experts that work with customers across a broad range of activities, including consumption optimisation, order enrichment processes, multicountry consolidation, value-adding services, and domestic inventory holding, alongside many other distribution solutions.
“We are investing in our network expansion across Australia, especially in regional areas, which allows us to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and deliver against their market growth plans,” Francis Murugan shares.
Alongside helping smaller businesses with their growth aspirations, Kuehne+Nagel Australia is investing expertise in the project logistics space, particularly in the movement of large operations.
As a result, the company has continued to work closely with mining, oil and gas, and infrastructure customers to meet both domestic and global demands.
Kuehne+Nagel strives to become the leading logistics provider in the mining industry by continuously seeking innovative processes and services to optimise supply chains for its mining customers.
The idea is to build on its existing momentum with its industrial project services, with the company recently undertaking numerous initiatives to drive project capabilities on an industrial scale.
“These developments reflect Kuehne+Nagel’s commitment to expanding and innovating its industrial project services, focusing on advanced technology integration, strategic partnerships, and sustainable infrastructure to meet the evolving demands of the industry,” imparts François Sellin.
For example, the company has inaugurated a 55,000 square metre
“Kuehne+Nagel ensures that mining and energy companies can maintain efficient, safe, and sustainable operations, even in challenging and remote environments”
- FRANÇOIS SELLIN, GLOBAL LEAD MINING, KUEHNE+NAGEL
(sqm) contract logistics centre in the town of Mülheim-Kärlich in Germany.
“This facility is dedicated to the global spare parts supply for Wacker Neuson Group’s light and compact equipment. It employs advanced goods-to-person technology, utilising over 30 autonomous robots to optimise storage and retrieval processes,” he informs.
Elsewhere, Kuehne+Nagel announced plans last year to develop a 22,915 sqm logistics facility in EZDubai, an e-commerce hub in the most populated city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Scheduled for completion
by Q2 2025, the facility aims to provide third-party logistics (3PL), e-commerce, and goods handling services.
“It is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification, incorporating innovative, energy-saving features to support sustainable operations,” Francois Sellin emphasises.
Additionally, the company entered into a strategic agreement with Capgemini in September 2023, working closely to deliver end-to-end supply chain capabilities.
This collaboration combines Kuehne+Nagel’s logistics management and execution expertise with
Capgemini’s Intelligent Supply Chain Optimisation (ISCO) capabilities. Moreover, the partnership aims to provide artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled, data-driven decisionmaking services, enhancing supply chain resilience, efficiency, and sustainability for clients across various industrial sectors.
ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
As a world-class logistics provider, Kuehne+Nagel deeply understands the responsibility it has to mitigate the impacts of its vast supply chain and distribution activities.
KUEHNE+NAGEL’S TECHNOLOGY
An integrated IT software platform is utilised to streamline and optimise supply chain operations across Kuehne+Nagel’s global network.
Key features include:
• End-to-end visibility – The system offers instantaneous tracking of inventory, shipments, and production schedules across multiple locations. This ultimately enables better decision-making and reduces inefficiencies caused by a lack of transparency.
• Data integration – Integrates data from various resources, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, warehouse management systems (WMS), and transportation management systems (TMS). The unified data environment ensures the consistent flow of information.
• Automation and standardisation – The system automates routine supply chain processes, such as order management, invoicing, and demand forecasting.
• Demand planning and forecasting – Advanced analytics and AI-driven tools help predict demand trends accurately, enabling companies to align production and inventory with market requirements.
• Supplier and vendor collaboration – The platform helps to facilitate seamless communication and collaboration with suppliers and vendors, improving procurement efficiency and reducing lead times.
• Cost optimisation – Optimises inventory levels, reducing transportation costs and improving operational efficiency.
“Companies can leverage Kuehne+Nagel’s systems to effectively synchronise their supply chain operations, drive efficiency, and remain competitive in a fast-paced, interconnected global market,” assures François Sellin.
The company’s dedication is exemplified by its online health, safety, and environment (HSE) tool, a robust system designed to enhance safety, sustainability, and regulatory compliance across its global projects, thus maintaining the highest HSE standards whilst ensuring continued operational excellence.
The state-of-the-art tool includes comprehensive incident management that allows for the real-time reporting, investigation, and resolution of HSE incidents, ensuring prompt action and minimised risk.
The online HSE platform also includes modules for hazard identification and risk assessment, enabling proactive measures to prevent accidents and environmental harm.
Regarding the latter, the tool allows users to track key environmental metrics such as carbon emissions, waste generation, and energy consumption, therefore allowing them to support sustainability initiatives and comply with international
frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UN SDGs).
On top of this, the tool also facilitates regular HSE audits to facilitate ongoing compliance with internal policies and external standards. As a result, detailed reports are generated for regulatory bodies whilst also ensuring employees are trained and certified in HSE best practices.
The platform notably aligns with several internationally recognised standards, including but not limited to ISO 45001, 14001, and 50001, as well as the commitments of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
“By leveraging the online HSE tool, Kuehne+Nagel ensures a safe, sustainable, and compliant operational framework that aligns with both global standards and customer expectations,” François Sellin surmises.
A ZERO-CARBON FUTURE
As a world-class logistics provider, Kuehne+Nagel Australia deeply
understands the responsibility to limit the impacts of its vast supply chain and distribution activities.
“We are addressing carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction in all our transport and logistics services worldwide,” Francis Murugan states.
Kuehne+Nagel Australia works hard to balance environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments at both a local and global level.
Namely, it strives to maintain effective carbon management across all operations, provide environmentally-friendly solutions and offerings to its customers, and procure logistics services based on stringent sustainability criteria.
To achieve its ambitious environmental goals, Kuehne+Nagel Australia must meet two main targets. Firstly, the company strives to be fully carbon neutral in its direct sphere of influence, whilst also reducing its CO2 emissions by 33 percent by 2030.
“Our journey to a zero-carbon future also comes with a commitment to our customers by offering solutions
that reduce CO2 emissions in their supply chains.
“We do this by using big data and predictive analytics, as well as digital platforms to support the selection of more sustainable transport routes and modes,” Francis Murugan notes.
In line with its forward-thinking ESG commitments, Kuehne+Nagel Australia also has a strong partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA).
“This allows us to work with local communities on programmes that are important to them. It lets our people give back to society in the communities that they live and work,” he explains.
CVA delivers numerous large-scale community events across the country, particularly revolving around the likes of World Environment Day, World Wetlands Day, and National Tree Day, in which the team gets involved in CVA’s critical environmental initiatives.
For instance, Kuehne+Nagel Australia last year provided support in CVA’s waterways and wetlands activities, which included removing substantial amounts of marine pollution from the beach, planting several wetland sites, removing 1,000 metres of invasive weeds, and helping the company plant 7,600 trees.
Alongside its ESG strategies, Kuehne+Nagel Australia continuously strives to go the extra mile for its customers, ensuring that its expert teams remain in close contact with them going forward.
As such, the company will continue to invest in its network expansion and find sustainable solutions for its global customers in 2025.
Tel: +6129 317 6000 yu.miguchi@kuehne-nagel.com au.kuehne-nagel.com/en/
