All europe articles – Page 112

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    Ford completes upgrade for Ranger exports

    2011-07-06T00:00:00Z

    Ford has completed a two-year, $500m upgrade to its manufacturing and assembly plants in South Africa to enable it to produce and export its new Ranger diesel pickup trucks to 148 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia. Ford's Struandale engine plant in Port Elizabeth engine has been extensively upgraded and ...

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    LSPs collaborate on Le Havre growth project

    2011-07-06T00:00:00Z

    Further details of the Ro-Ro Max project underway at the French port of Le Havre reveal that logistics providers, including Gefco, Groupe CAT, Wilhelmsen Ships Service and Walon France, are working with technical committees to improve the storage surface and management of vehicle flows through the port. The project, which ...

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    GAZ president calls for discipline in Russia

    2011-07-06T00:00:00Z

    Logistics, customs clearance and Russian industrial policy will play critical roles in the on-going modernisation and success of Russia’s GAZ Group in the coming years, according to its president, Bo Andersson, the former global purchasing and supply chain chief for General Motors. Speaking to Automotive Logistics during the Automotive News ...

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    DHL to distribute Renault's lithium-ion batteries

    2011-07-06T00:00:00Z

    DHL has signed an exclusive, three-year contract with Renault to handle the distribution of replacement lithium-ion batteries in Europe. The service, which begins September 1st to coincide with the rollout of Renault’s electric vehicle range, will see DHL carry out logistics, including the storage and transport of batteries between a ...

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    Turning the corner

    2011-07-01T22:04:46Z

    Key trendsLogistics challengesIn a big countryBuilding on core strengthsConfidence is returning to the automotive industry in Australia after a period of slump but challenges such as infrastructure investment and supply chain flexibility need to be met, writes Andrew Williams.In the wake of the global financial crisis, the Australian automotive industry ...

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    Neapolitan strength from Grimaldi

    2011-07-01T21:52:16Z

    Automotive backboneNaples leads the growthScrap the old, in with the newProtecting profitsGrimaldi is having a record year, and Christopher Ludwig shows that the Naples-based company’s success is thanks to its strategies for automotive, investment and diversification.Relative to its general business strategy, 2011 should have been a catastrophe so far for ...

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    Europe divided over rail cargoes

    2011-07-01T21:30:33Z

    To Russia and beyondDistance myth dispelledWhat future for co-loading?...while closed wagons remain too expensiveSpeed of responseThe integration of European rail freight and cross-border standardisation remains a distant dream. Countries have differing state and private provision, with consequences for logistics companies, writes Barry Cross.The European Union has long had ambitions to ...

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    Changes from coast to coast

    2011-07-01T21:02:51Z

    The rise of exports and the spectre of JapanIncreasing competition on the East CoastNew players on the West CoastRichmond on the rise againWho will emerge next?As imports recover and exports grow through North American ports, a complex mix of factors from currency appreciation to the Japanese earthquake is forcing change ...

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    Scratching the surface of damage protection

    2011-07-01T20:35:22Z

    Types of damage Damage limitationHandle with careNew innovation gaining tractionThe long journeys experienced by finished vehicles require a co-ordinated approach to improving handling and prevent the risks of damage in transit, writes Andrew Williams.By the time new cars roll off production lines they will have undergone a series of strict ...

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    Serving the next new car boom in Russia

    2011-07-01T20:12:49Z

    Carriers neededMoving to railDoubts remainCustoms woesGoing domesticThe Russian car market is emerging from the economic downturn and, despite familiar obstacles to be faced, prospects are bright, writes William Ross.It has certainly been a roller-coaster ride in the Russian auto market over the past five years. After a dramatic, rapid rise ...

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    Heavy growth in Brazil

    2011-07-01T19:50:45Z

    Marcopolo discovers new territoriesAgco harvests logistics savingsConstructive logisticsBrazil’s boom has been driving a wave of investment in the construction and farming industries, through to tourism and retail. Tony Danby looks at how economic growth, the upcoming World Cup and expanding agricultural markets are spurring heavy machinery sales and the challenges ...

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    The inefficiency of the false monthly peak

    2011-07-01T19:44:52Z

    The volatility of volumes in the vehicle logistics sector causes huge dilemmas for providers. LSPs plan capacities with a degree of flexibility built in, but artificial peaks at the end of the month are creating more flagrant variations between forecasted volumes and the actual capacity that the industry can afford ...

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    Suppliers get serious about logistics

    2011-07-01T16:30:47Z

    Hit hard in the tough times, but expected to respond rapidly when the economy improves, tier one suppliers must find logistics approaches that are fast, cheap and flexible. Jonathan Ward reports that some are now benefitting from investment in IT and process improvements.Simple, fast and cheap;Parts and processes hand in ...

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    Agility required

    2011-07-01T15:36:07Z

    Continental is bouncing back in China, but is aware that the country’s bureaucracy and lack of visibility present particular challenges to a supply chain that requires a flexible approach.A need to lower inventory;Complex and growing opportunities;Keeping up with logistics demand;The Japan crisis;Sticking to current contracts.The story of Continental in Asia ...

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    Group dynamics at VW

    2011-07-01T14:50:59Z

    As the head of VW Group Logistics, Thomas Zernechel is keeping logistics innovation at the forefront of the carmaker’s global expansion, particularly with the rollout of its ‘new logistics concept’.Capacity planning down the tiers;Moving towards crossdocks;Letting the train take the strain;Rolling out hubs for outbound;The role of C02 reduction;A return ...

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    After the disaster in Japan

    2011-07-01T12:11:35Z

    The tsunami and earthquake in Japan have produced soul-searching about how the industry should react. But there will not be a knee-jerk reaction, and well-established practices will not be thrown into reverseKey industries positions questioned;Minimising impact of disasters.Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami in March put a significant proportion of the ...

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    China's aftermarket is waiting for the ripple

    2011-07-01T11:31:20Z

    The aftermarket in China is lagging behind the manufacture of and demand for cars but there are encouraging signs that consolidation and specialisation of services is on the rise.An overview of China's aftermarket;Early days;The aftermarket versus the auto market;Packaging in the aftermarket;The dealership challenge;Warranty and cost;How excited should companies get?.By ...

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    Making the warehouse visible

    2011-07-01T09:54:55Z

    The key to an efficient automotive operation is a successful warehouse system but it needs to be integrated and transparent to reach its optimum efficiency.Consolidating different systems;Supporting cross-docking;Range of picking systems;Barcode scanning;Costs of investment.Ever since the first Model T rolled off Ford’s production line, manufacturing processes were seen as key ...

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    Global round up

    2011-06-29T00:00:00Z

    Cat Logistics expands US distribution with Spokane centreCaterpillar Logistics Services will begin construction this summer on a new US parts distribution centre in Spokane, Washington, which is expected to be completed next year and will replace the company’s existing 11,600m2 facility. The new facility is part of the Caterpillar subsidiary’s ...

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    Executives on the move

    2011-06-29T00:00:00Z

    Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) has announced two appointments to its global executive management team. Christopher J. Connor has been named chief commercial officer for the company’s global organization and will assume the CCO role while continuing as deputy CEO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics AS. Connor will work closely with Oslo-based ...