All Feature articles – Page 293

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    Reasons to be cheerful for freight industry

    2011-08-10T00:00:00Z

    The logistics industry is in good health despite the dire warnings of recession from the world’s financial centres according to analysis from consultancy Transport Intelligence. Despite turmoil in the market over the debt crisis in Europe and a downgrade in the US credit rating, there may be reasons to believe ...

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    Gefco ready to buy and expand

    2011-08-10T00:00:00Z

    Gefco, the logistics division of the PSA Peugeot-Citroën Group, is pushing to expand and diversify its vehicle logistics operations and is targeting further acquisitions in European and global markets. The company, which has experienced record growth and profits this year, is aiming to reduce the proportion of PSA business in ...

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    Global roundup

    2011-08-03T00:00:00Z

    Sonic has most complex logistics for GM in North AmericaGeneral Motors launched production this week of the Chevrolet Sonic subcompact at its Orion Township assembly plant in suburban Detroit, the only subcompact car it manufacturers in the US. According to Kenneth Knight, GM executive director of global and North ...

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    Chinese logistics costs rise as US, Europe stagnate

    2011-08-03T00:00:00Z

    Chinese logistics costs in the first half of 2011 have risen to 18% of the country’s GDP, an increase of 0.1% since last year according to a report by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP). The rise comes at a time when logistics costs in Europe and North ...

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    Supply chain and earthquake costs hurt carmakers' profits

    2011-08-03T00:00:00Z

    The release of earnings reports over the past week has revealed supply chain threats to carmakers’ profits in the form of higher raw material costs, currency shifts as well as component shortages and premium freight logistics costs, both related to the lingering impacts from the Japanese earthquake. Several carmakers facing ...

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    DHL rolls out aftermarket concept for BMW UK

    2011-08-03T00:00:00Z

    DHL Supply Chain has signed a three-year contract with BMW UK to increase dealership deliveries in Scotland and Northern England. DHL will provide warehouse services at its shared-user Bellshill location in Scotland, including receipt, put-away, picking and dispatching of automotive components and fast moving spare parts for the Scottish aftermarket. ...

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    Groupe CAT on the prowl for assets and acquisitions

    2011-08-03T00:00:00Z

    Groupe CAT, the France-based vehicle and cargo logistics provider, has revealed that it is tracking ahead of its expansion, diversification and asset purchase targets, and that it is also interested in acquiring other companies as it grows globally. Improvements in the company’s business model appear fortuitous particularly as it faces ...

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    Ford chooses Gujarat for logistics access

    2011-08-03T00:00:00Z

    Ford Motor Company has said that it chose to build a car and powetrain plant in India in Sanand, Gujarat, in the northwestern part of the country, to improve delivery times to the largest market in the north and to gain better access to the ports of export in the ...

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    Panopa supports Mercedes in Hungary

    2011-07-27T00:00:00Z

    Imperial Logistics subsidiary Panopa has expanded its Eastern European operations to support a new container management contract with Daimler in Kecskemét, Hungary. The company has established a new division called Panopa Logistik Magyar to support the new business. The three-year contract involves returnable container handling in support of Daimler’s rollout ...

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    Global round up

    2011-07-27T00:00:00Z

    Milestone journey for DB Schenker RailLast Saturday DB Schenker Rail moved the first European-sized freight train on the UK’s High Speed 1 (HS1) rail link connecting the Channel Tunnel to London. The HS1 is the only European-sized rail route in the country. The new service will connect the UK via ...

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    Further setback for Saab

    2011-07-27T00:00:00Z

    Saab has been forced to push back the planned production restart at its Trolhätten plant, which was due on August 9th, because of continued funding problems. In a joint statement, the carmaker and its owner Swedish Automobile NV (formerly Spyker Cars) said that discussions were continuing with parties to obtain ...

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    Executives on the move

    2011-07-27T00:00:00Z

    Greg May, president of US finished vehicle carrier, Jack Cooper Transport, is to leave the company at the end of August. He will remain involved with the company as a consultant and continues in his role as vice chairman of subsidiary Jack Cooper Logistics. May has not announced what his ...

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    VW works toward crossdock network

    2011-07-27T00:00:00Z

    Volkswagen has been undergoing trials at three group consolidation centres in Europe as it aims to shift from a regional system of freight forwarding to running a network of crossdocks. The group is now in the process of tendering for more consolidation centres in the coming years. According to Thomas ...

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    Carmakers fight for taxi rank

    2011-07-27T00:00:00Z

    The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has approved the Ford Transit Connect Taxi for use in the city, which will mean regular shipments from the carmaker’s Otosan plant in Turkey. The announcement is something of a surprise given TLC’s approval in May this year of a ten-year “exclusive” ...

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    Global round up

    2011-07-20T00:00:00Z

    Ford starts Focus output in RussiaFord has started production this week of its new Focus model at the Vsevolozhsk plant near St Petersburg, Russia for distribution to its 100-strong dealership network in the country. The company has already secured 5,000 orders from Russian customers. Production started on Monday of the ...

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    Executives on the move

    2011-07-20T00:00:00Z

    Following last month’s logistics management shakeup at General Motors it has been confirmed that Andreas Graffe will replace Jeff Morrison as director of logistics for Opel/Vauxhall in Europe. Graffe, who is currently purchasing director at Shanghai GM, will move over to the new role next month. Morrison moves back to ...

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    Ro-ro providers divided on sulphur rule

    2011-07-20T00:00:00Z

    The European Commission (EC) has adopted proposals to cut shipping fuel sulphur content on short sea routes in northern European waters to 0.1% from 1.5% from 2015. The proposal also aims to cut fine particle emissions from ships by up to 80%, according to the EC. The proposal incorporates global ...

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    Russian customs law causes more delays

    2011-07-20T00:00:00Z

    Further changes to customs procedures in the Russian Federation are causing disruption to border crossings, including long queues and extended waiting times, which is affecting automotive shipments into the country. According to Federal Law No.394-FZ, Russian customs has now been granted the authority to carry out transport control in full ...

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    Korea could be next best option to Japan

    2011-07-20T00:00:00Z

    Carmakers and tier suppliers looking to diversify their supply chain away from the high costs and on-going disruptions in Japan may find the next best option to be South Korea following the recent free trade agreement with Europe and one to follow with the US, according to analysis from Frost ...

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    Audi invests in logistics for Neckarsulm

    2011-07-20T00:00:00Z

    Audi has built a new €34m ($48m) logistics centre to support increased output at its Neckarsulm assembly plant in Germany. The facility, which is built on a 12,000m2 site, features automated small load carriers for the handling of parts that the company says is more ergonomic than the previous manual ...