Netherlands-headquartered packing provider VMT Ecopack has won Frost and Sullivan’s 2009 European Automotive Packaging Growth Strategy Leadership of the Year Award in recognition of its demonstration of “an exceptional growth strategy” within the automotive industry.
“The commitment to reduce the logistics costs of its customers through innovative packaging solutions is the primary reason for the success of VMT Ecopack Group,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst, Archana Rajagopalan.
Since 1990 VMT Ecopack has been targeting the European automotive market and its customers include Audi, Autoliv, Faurecia, Ford, Johnson Controls, Magna, Porsche, Toyota and VW amongst others.
“Despite the challenging automotive market, the company has maintained its historical growth pattern with impressive growth rates in 2008 (20%) and during the first quarter of 2009 (25%),” said Rajagopalan.
VMT’s Ecopack collapsible and reusable pallet boxes offer automotive companies the potential to reduce transport costs by up to 80% according to the company.
Talking about the award to Automotive Logistics, VMT’s Managing Director Richard van Mulken said: “The award gives proof of how our concept focuses on major logistic cost savings through smart packaging solutions. A good packaging system makes takt times on the supplier side short and ensures a lean lineside sequence.
“Moreover, [a system] that is collapsible makes the return of equipment more cost-effective. Combining the lean aspect with transport cost optimisation is key to our concept,” he said.
According to van Mulken, one to two years before a new car model is in production, VMT starts working on defining the most optimal packaging solution for its components. The packaging is developed and chosen to survive at least the lifetime of a car model (on average 5-7 years).
VMT sells its durable packaging system for that lifetime but also offers its Ecopacks, BHT Boxes and Foldable Placon boxes to customers on a rental and leasing basis via its VMT Packaging Pooling Systems subsidiary.
The company has recently provided returnable packaging solutions to transport around 75 different components for the Hyundai i30, produced in the Czech Republic, including plastic palletbox and textile protection for the rear and front door panels.
It has also provided solutions for the transport of seat structures on the Nissan Qashqai+2 between Frankfurt, Germany and Sunderland in the UK.
