All articles by Marcus Williams – Page 153
-
FeatureBrazilian ports law risks ignoring auto terminals
A revision to a recent law governing new terminal investment in Brazil’s ports is causing concern among ro-ro operators who are worried that concessions will be awarded to bulk commodities and containers at the expense of vehicles.Last December, the Brazilian government announced a R$58 billion ($26 billion) incentive programme to ...
-
FeatureOn the logistics launch pad
While a lot is written about inbound and aftermarket logistics, relatively little attention is paid to the services provided for vehicle launches, which involve some of the most complex logistics solutions. These can aslo be very expensive, especially since it is common to fly prototypes around to different plants and ...
-
FeatureNo tools in the box to fix SOx impact says ECG
The deadline on regulations being brought in by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to control sulphur emissions in European waters comes into effect at the beginning of 2015 and it looks to be bringing with it a crisis for the shortsea shipping industry. Following the European Union’s Clean ...
-
FeatureNissan turns over a new Leaf in UK
Nissan launched production of its second generation Leaf electric vehicle at the Sunderland plant in the UK last Thursday, the first time the vehicle has been produced outside of Japan. The company revealed its global and regional sourcing strategy for the plant, including import of key electronic components from ...
-
FeatureDaimler's new take on some old vehicle logistics challenges
In a sector often maligned for failing to innovate, two companies in Europe, Daimler and logistics provider Vega, are searching for new and improved ways of doing finished vehicle logistics.In Europe, given the need to reduce costs while responding to structural changes in the market and vehicle flows, Daimler and ...
-
FeatureToyota plans US export expansion to Eastern Europe and Russia
Toyota’s decision to start exports from the US to Russia and the Ukraine this spring – the first US export programme to those markets for the carmaker – marks the start of bigger plans for volume movements between the US and Eastern Europe. It also indicates how important exports to ...
-
FeatureEU-US free trade deal aims to harmonise standards
After several years of discussion, the European Union and the United States plan to begin negotiations at the beginning of this summer on setting up a free-trade agreement (FTA). Trade between the two economies is worth €455 billion ($613 billion) a year and the EU estimates that the deal would ...
-
FeatureIntegrated services take off for DHL
DHL’s supply chain division is boosting revenue with cross-sector strategies and lead logistics services in the automotive industry. Marcus Williams looks at the company’s development in Europe. DHL Supply Chain is the world’s largest contract logistics company, and one of the more advanced in providing lead logistics provider (LLP) ...
-
FeatureCounterfeit parts are costing the industry billions
There is evidence of (un)healthy growth in the global trade of counterfeit parts and vehicles, which not only carries risks to the safety of the end-user, but also to the brand reputations of carmakers. Some important discoveries of such parts have been found during customs crackdowns at major logistics centres.A ...
-
FeatureWWL buys controlling stake in ALS
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics has bought a 60% stake in Abnormal Load Services Holding (ALS), a UK-based high-and-heavy-equipment logistics provider that specialises in ‘out of gauge’ transport and supply chain services.ALS will now become an integrated part of WWL, enhancing the Norwegian logistics provider’s services for existing and ...
-
FeatureCarmakers aim for greater accuracy in delivery
Old habits die hard in the automotive logistics industry and according to Greg May, president and CEO of Car Delivery Network, you either decide to change them or the market will do it for you.Delegates at last week’s Automotive Logistics Global conference in Detroit learned about the latest changes ...
-
Feature
Tax advantages keep auto investment in Poland
There are new developments being discussed for an automotive cluster in the Silesia region of Poland near GM’s Opel’s plant in Gliwice, which lies at the heart of the Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSEZ). It reaffirms the importance of the automotive industry to the region since Opel decided in 1996 ...
-
FeatureCan outbound keep up with North America’s changes?
Rail and road capacity better than expected Move to hub-and-spoke distributionReducing empty backhaulsDynamic ETA and visibilityElectronic data sharingA new associationA flexible futureDelegates at Automotive Logistics Global debated the implications of vehicle production growth in Mexico, and whether the industry will offer enough direct services and capacity to handle changing vehicle ...
-
FeatureWith the clock ticking, take sulphur out at source
Moving cars and equipment on the ocean is arguably the least environmentally damaging way of doing it. The good news is that it is about to become even less polluting with the introduction of emission control areas (ECAs) around the coasts of the Baltic and North Sea in Europe and ...
-
FeatureWWL calls for critical mass on fuel strategy
Following the European Parliament’s confirmation that it will not apply a five-year extension to the introduction of MARPOL regulations governing sulphur content of bunker fuels (read more here), the shipping industry is now faced with the unavoidable prospect of forwarding goods with a maximum limit 0.1% sulphur content in ...
-
FeatureAuto trade shows strong growth
The automotive industry is out in front when it comes to the global trade in goods but could cut costs with some innovative thinking about rail for finished vehicles.Speaking at the beginning of this week’s RoRoEx conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, Mike Garratt, managing director of MDS Transmodal, pointed out ...
-
FeatureRoom for improvement
Backlogs and bottlenecksA need for optimismNo need for pessimismDaimler’s outbound logistics providers were told that they needed to improve their performance and invest in new transport equipment to support the carmaker’s ‘best or nothing’ credo at this year’s European Carrier Day, writes Marcus Williams.Das Beste oder nichts. The best or ...
-
FeatureVertical impact in a volatile market
While the automotive industry holds its breath over economic forecasts, DB Schenker Logistics is looking ahead with cautious optimism and expanding its contract logistics offering for the sector. Marcus Williams finds out whyFlexibility to meet fluctuation;Targeted growth;Broad customer base;Cross-sector solutions;Investment in IT;Logistics growth in Leipzig;Strong focus on spare parts;Footprints to ...
-
FeatureBlend the strengths at NYK
Japan’s NYK Group is in the process of merging its contract logistics division with its airfreight forwarding business to create a global entity called Yusen Logistics. Marcus Williams reports on the how it is aiming to provide a tailor-made service that will better serve the needs of its automotive customers.Phased ...
-
FeaturePermit impasse reveals bigger problems
Further details have come to light about the politically-fuelled dispute between Russia and Poland that affected the issue of third-country haulage permits for car carriers last month (read more here). They include the impact of fuel duty prices, restrictions on transit through the Czech Republic and tariff increases. And, according ...