All Europe articles – Page 168
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FeatureAntwerp closure raises logistics questions
As well as the devastating impact on the local community with the loss of 2,300 jobs, GM’s announced intention to close its Opel plant in Antwerp, Belgium by the middle of the year has left questions hanging over material and finished vehicle flows across the carmaker’s other European plants. The ...
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UK aftermarket federation launched
The UK’s new automotive aftermarket organisation – the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) – has been launched. The new body, which has evolved out of the Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF) and will comprise three divisions, including distribution, lobbying and workshop activities. The IAAF-D will continue to carry out the functions ...
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FeatureRisk report warns of underinvestment
The risk of another collapse in asset prices, mounting government debt, the spread of chronic diseases – these were some of the gruesome highlights out of the “Global Risks 2010” report published last week by the World Economic Forum. While the report’s authors stressed the “interconnectedness” of each risk to ...
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FeatureIveco contract targets efficiency
Commercial vehicle maker Iveco has renewed its contract with logistics provider Kuehne + Nagel for the greater part of its European aftermarket supply. The three-year extension to the nine year relationship includes the management of five regional spare parts distribution centres in Turin (Italy), Langenau (Germany), Madrid (Spain), Trappes (France) ...
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FeatureFrustrated carmakers to meet wary suppliers
Carmakers trying to raise the efficiency of their logistics networks are facing service providers that might not be able to rise to the challenge. And while OEMs make renewed calls for more open discussion with their providers, the reality is that they will need more than words when they meet ...
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FeatureGermany ranks no.1 for logistics
Germany topped the rankings of 155 countries rated in the World Bank’s ‘Logistics Performance Index’ (LPI), a report published this week based on more than 5,000 individual country assessments made by around 1,000 international freight forwarders. (Read the full report here info.worldbank.org/etools/tradesurvey/Mode1a.asp) The report highlights a range of categories of ...
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FeatureUK weather puts logistics on ice
As Antarctic temperatures hit the UK last week, with snow and ice bringing many parts of the country to a standstill, automotive logistics companies have been forced to implement a number of measures to protect vehicles, find alternative routes and ensure the safety of drivers and staff. It is the ...
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FeatureExecutives on the move
Following last week’s announcement that the ECG’s executive director Mark Morgan is leaving his position there at the end of March, this week it has been confirmed that he will join Pound Gates in the newly-created post of commercial director. Pound Gates, which is based in the UK with offices ...
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FeatureMercedes opens Brunswick VPC
Monday saw the arrival of 16,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles at the US Port of Brunswick, marking the first delivery to the carmaker’s new $17.5m vehicle processing centre (VPC) at the Colonel’s Island terminal. The 6,500m2 facility is the second VPC to be established on the south side of terminal, the other ...
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FeatureStarco gets Agility for Asia parts imports to Europe
European tyre, wheel and axle supplier, Starco Group, has signed a new contract with supply chain solutions provider Agility for procurement logistics between Asia and Europe. In the first stage of the operation Agility will handle the shipping of 8,000 TEUs of parts, including tyres, tubes, wheel rims, complete wheels ...
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FeatureEukor and Hoegh announce additional services
The new year has begun with new service announcements from two of the world’s leading finished vehicle forwarders. Eukor Car Carriers has launched a new fixed weekly service from Europe to China, loading from ports at Wallhamn (Sweden), Bremerhaven (Germany), Antwerp (Belgium) and Southampton (UK), to Shanghai, Xingang and Huangpu ...
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FeatureExecutives on the move
The Association of European Vehicle Logistics (ECG) is looking for a new executive director with the announcement this week that Mark Morgan (pictured) will be leaving the association at the end of March. Morgan, who has been in the position since August 2006, is returning to the UK for family ...
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FeatureChrysler signs contracts with NAPA and WWL
US carmaker Chrysler is boosting export activity from North America with two new shipping contracts serving Europe, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim. The company has signed a contract with the North America Pacific Asia (NAPA) service jointly operated by Norway’s Partner Shipping and Australia’s Praxis Logistics. This month it ...
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FeatureMitsubishi extends Europe distribution with BLG
BLG has extended its contract with Mitsubishi Europe for the distribution of all vehicles from the carmaker’s Nedland plant in Born, the Netherlands, to dealerships throughout Germany and in Norway. The contract has intially been signed up to 2012 and BLG is now Mitsubishi’s sole partner with responsibility for the ...
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FeatureGrooming the yard
Specialised software on the riseTagging to trackIncreasing productivityThe road aheadIT systems, whether hardware or software, are beginning to be more sophisticated for managing flows in and out of vehicle yards. Jim Romeo reportsWhile the automotive inbound and outbound supply chain has become more complex, the IT systems used to track ...
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FeatureEuropean car ports are waiting on an Asian dream
China’s big paper plansAssessing the European landing pointKia went to a smaller port, and so could othersChina and India have raced ahead in domestic car sales, but logistics providers and port operators in Europe are wondering when, and if, they will arrive on local shores in any substantial way. Malcolm ...
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Handling cars with a little less human touch
Chock full of vehicle sizesProtect only where it countsDesign the terminal rightLooking to Asia as a guideA group effortSixthSeventhEighthWhile OEMs spend significant amounts of money on protective products, the most important measure that can be taken is training staff and developing careful processes for handling and inspecting vehicles. Carmakers and ...
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FeatureCan one size ever fit all?
Flexible and adjustable equipment stands outDesigning the perfect car carrierA divided EuropeWhat to tell your carriersCarmakers are gravitating towards similar standards and technology for road carriers, but the recession has made investment tougher than ever. Carrier builders and customers speak about how much cutting-edge technology and processes countThe purchase of ...
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FeatureDesigning a group logistics strategy for SAIC
A family of logistical differencesLooking abroad, cautiouslyGetting stronger at homeA tale of two AnjisThe sprawling Chinese conglomerate is growing quickly across its indigenous brands and joint venture operations, which include truckmaker subsidiaries and an in-house logistics company, Anji Automotive Logistics. Namrita Chow takes a look inside the group to see ...
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FeatureGetting the sea legs back again
Circling the globe to find growthRussian headacheShort-sea outlookCapacity conundrumPredicting the right balanceOcean carriers are sailing just a bit steadier as they emerge from the stormiest of seas this past year, with at least a mild recovery anticipated for Asian trade lanes in 2010. Finished Vehicle Logistics charts their course.The global ...