Global news in brief

Powertrain, chassis and safety technology supplier, Federal Mogul, has opened a new aftermarket distribution centre in Madrid to service the Spanish market, which accounts for 10% of the company’s European aftermarket business.

 

The 8,000m² Coslada facility will stock 35,000 specialised replacement parts and is capable of processing more than 200,000 parts per month. Current monthly throughput stands as 110,000 parts.

 

Spain has the sixth largest vehicle fleet in Europe and the car parc keeps growing, hence the opportunities in the replacement parts market are significantly increasing,” said Federal-Mogul President and CEO José María Alapont at a ceremony to mark the opening of the centre. “Growing in the Spanish market is a priority for Federal-Mogul,” he added.

 

According to the company the facility will utilise the latest state-of-the-art supply chain management, inventory control and order fulfilment technology, ensuring rapid and accurate order delivery to customers.

 

 

UPS has expanded its Express Freight service for automotive and industrial shipments in Slovakia, with guaranteed time-critical shipments by air over a one to three-day bracket door-to-door and the inclusion of customs clearance.

 

“As we have seen the Slovakian economy grow, in particular automotive and industrial manufacturing, we have seen an increase in demand for time critical shipments, both package and freight,” a UPS spokesperson told Automotive Logistics News.

 

UPS would not comment on specific contracts or market share but recognised that Slovakia was one of the largest producers of automobiles per capita in the world. “Just-in-time shipping is often a need for customers in that industry segment. As their economy has grown, the demand for time critical shipping has grown with it,” added the spokesperson.

 

The company reported that it is also expanding the Express Freight service in Israel for industries including high tech, automotive and aeronautical parts.

 

“Our decades of experience in the high-tech, industrial and automotive industries, combined with our expertise in global trade and international air freight, makes UPS well-positioned to address the growing import and export needs of these countries,” said Scott Aubuchon, director of international air freight marketing at UPS.

 

 

Freight management provider Geodis Wilson has announced it is now able to carry out airfreight shipment scanning on its own premises in Kelsterbach, Germany.

 

The company has installed x-ray scanners in reaction to more stringent international security regulations following the discovery last October of a cargo shipment containing explosive material destined for the US from Yemen. (Read more here

http://www.automotivelogisticsmagazine.com/Newsitem.aspx?aid=807#story

 

The company said the investment provides clients with an enhanced service and will save them time because the technology is in-house and no longer requires an external service partner, still currently common practice for most forwarders.

 

A radiation protection officer and a traffic assistant ensure safe operations and professional scanning of all shipments is carried according to the latest security standards said the company.

 

Ro Ro Line Pte, an subsidiary of Taiwan’s TMT Group, has launched the first of four new ro-ro vessels to support its new service between the UK and northern Europe, and destinations in East Africa, the Middle East and the Far East.

 

The first sailing will leave from Immingham port in the UK on 14 March.

 

The first vessel to launch the service, called A Ladybug, is capable of carrying 7,600 passenger vehicles, putting it amongst the largest pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) in operation. As well as passenger vehicles it is equipped to carry a variety of freight, including construction and plant equipment, trucks, trailers and other mobile equipment. The company’s own Mafi trailers also equip it for project and static cargo according to the company.

 

A Ladybug and will soon be joined by three other vessels with the novel designations B Ladybug, C Ladybug, and D Ladybug.

 

TMT group is involved in bulk carrier, oil tanker and marine development and launched its Ro Ro Line business in 2003. The company currently runs ro-ro vessels along sea routes linking Southeast Asia and the Middle East.