All Africa articles – Page 7
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FeatureGroupe CAT makes full buyout of Vehicle Services Europe venture
[Updated 24th February] Transport and logistics provider, Groupe CAT, has bought the German division of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) for an undisclosed sum. The business, which operated under the name Vehicle Services Europe, was a joint venture between the two logistics providers. Groupe CAT will now add three vehicle distribution ...
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FeatureMercedes forced to re-route cars from port of Koper to Bremerhaven
[UPDATED 11 February] Mercedes-Benz has been forced to reroute Asia-bound European exports from the Slovenian port of Koper to Germany’s Bremerhaven port, because of widespread disruption on the Slovenian rail network, which is run by the state-owned company, Slovenske Zeleznice.The disruption includes closures to the one-track line between Divaca to ...
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FeatureHöegh names third New Horizon vessel; adds Europe-Colombia service
Höegh Autoliners has recently named the third vessel in its New Horizon class at a ceremony held at the Xiamen Shipbuilding Industries yard in China. The vessel was named Höegh Tracer by Hiromi Oe, wife of Akio Oe, President of Nissan Motor Car Carrier (NMCC).The Höegh Tracer will be one ...
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Santander breaks all records in 2015
In 2015, the Spanish port of Santander broke all throughput records for finished vehicles. By November, it had already handled almost 415,000 units, which was 23% more than the corresponding 11-month period in 2014 and 10% higher than the previous year as a whole. In 2014, Santander handled 374,646 vehicles, ...
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FeatureFrench carmakers scale up plans in Iran following sanctions lift
The recent lifting of economic sanctions against Iran has been quickly followed by a rush of interest by international carmakers who are eager to make the most of a market forecast to hit 8m within the next decade, as well as reach the wider market in the Middle East and ...
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Mexico Conference report: On the borderline of change
The second Automotive Logistics Mexico conference, held in Mexico City, saw hundreds of executives and officials discuss how best to ensure that the country’s fast-growing automotive production and supply chain will be fit for purpose by 2020 and beyond. Christopher Ludwig reports on plenty of progress, as well as reasons ...
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Mexico conference: Audi adapts logistics for San José Chiapa
When Audi starts series production later this year of the Q5 SUV crossover at its new plant in San José Chiapa, in the state of Puebla, Mexico, it will begin one of the most complex operations for parts handling and logistics in the country, with tremendous variety and customisation in ...
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ERL ro-ro vessel abandoned in Bay of Biscay
The ro-ro vessel Modern Express, operated by European RoRo Lines (ERL), is currently drifting at a severe list in the Bay of Biscay following a loss of stability in heavy seas and Force 8 gales. All 22 crew members have been evacuated.The Panama-flagged vessel, which remains afloat but has ...
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FeatureTaking ownership of the supply chain
The acquisition of UTi Worldwide looks set to substantially boost DSV’s already impressive growth in the automotive sectorWhen DSV’s chief executive officer, Jens Bjørn Andersen, spoke to Automotive Logistics in September 2015 at the opening of its 168,000 sq.m Krefeld-Fichtenhain logistics centre, near Düsseldorf in Germany, he said that the ...
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WWL fully acquires South African joint venture with Groupe CAT
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) is buying 50% of the shares in CAT-WWL, a joint venture network of ten vehicle-processing facilities in South Africa that WWL originally set up with Groupe CAT in 2006.After acquiring the shares and taking full ownership, WWL will become one of the top independent providers of ...
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Guenter Butschek named as new CEO of Tata Motors
Guenter Butschek, a former Daimler executive who has held a number of roles in logistics, has been appointed as chief executive officer and managing director at India’s Tata Motors.Butschek will lead all Tata Motors operations in India, and in international markets including South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and South Africa.Butschek is ...
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Jérôme Lorrain to lead Ceva’s new Ground Transportation division
Ceva Logistics has added a fourth business division to its operations that will focus on ground transport services and run alongside its existing air, ocean and contract logistics units. The new division will be headed by Jérôme Lorrain, who is taking up the position of chief operating officer (COO).The services ...
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UTi shareholders approve DSV acquisition
Shareholders at UTi Worldwide have voted overwhelmingly to agree to the merger agreement between DSV and UTi Worldwide.The transaction is still subject to regulatory approval by competition authorities in South Africa, but this is not expected to present a problem.DSV has said that the company still expects to close in ...
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FeatureJapan: The ripple effects of a global sea change
While it remains the top exporter of finished vehicles, Japan has shifted from its central role in the global vehicle trade, with shipping companies adjusting their strategies accordinglyJapan has been the world’s top exporter of vehicles for decades, and it remains renowned for its quality of manufacturing as well as ...
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FeatureCanada: Changing with the scenery
It may be at a similar level of development, but Canada is a different logistical landscape to the US, and its changing production patterns mean providers have to work harder to remain efficientWhen considering North America’s vehicle logistics network, emphasis is most obviously put on the US, the world’s largest ...
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FeatureHyundai cuts production at St Petersburg plant
Hyundai will decrease the production volume at its St Petersburg plant by 6.3% this year to 215,000 units, the head of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Russia has said.“In 2015 we will continue stable operation without any changes, and target production of 215,000 cars,” he said. According to Hyundai, the plant suspended ...
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FeatureA bridge to better business
Christopher Ludwig talks to Höegh Autoliners CEO Ingar Skiaker about the carrier’s change of strategy to focus on expanding its logistics, terminal services and short-sea shipping. Among veteran ro-ro executives there is currently a touch of nostalgia for the business of the 1990s and most of the 2000s. Trade patterns ...
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FeatureFocus on Spain part 4: Making the rail in Spain move faster in the chain
General Motors has been increasing the amount of rail that it uses to move vehicles built in Spain to ports and to European markets, with ambitions to use the mode even more.Spain’s recovery in vehicle production and sales in 2015 was faster than many would have anticipated even at the ...
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FeatureFocus on Spain part 1: The bull is back
Spain’s production and sales are recovering from a long period of decline, with growth also in the country’s supplier base. Our four-part report looks at how manufacturers are responding. Reporting and contribution by Anthony Coia, Christopher Ludwig and Roger Stansfield.After more than five years of multiple recessions, fiscal austerity, high ...
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FeatureFord: The resources to wrap up a region
Bob Laurila, director of material planning and logistics in Asia Pacific, discusses how Ford is adapting its organisation and its systems to manage the region’s changing vehicle flows. Asia Pacific is becoming one of Ford Motor Company’s most dynamic and important regions for vehicle logistics. A quick glance at the ...