All africa articles – Page 25
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FeatureCarmakers told: Don't hoard, distribute
Business analyst and research consultancy Frost & Sullivan has warned manufacturers not to move away from lean inventory and just-in-time delivery and production processes, even in the wake of a number of well-documented disasters this year that have hit the automotive supply chain, such as the earthquake and tsunami in ...
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FeatureGlobal round up
Japanese carmakers extend production cutsToyota has extended the reductions to its global manufacturing output because of supply shortages caused by the flooding in Thailand. Cuts to output at plants in Japan for the two weeks between October 24th and November 5th have now been extended meaning production between November 7th ...
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FeatureRail push in South Africa
South African state-owned logistics group Transnet has announced it is spending R900m ($114m) on vehicle rail wagons in an effort to raise the number of vehicles transported by rail to 45% by 2015. Currently around 30% of vehicles are shipped by rail in the country. Besides the investment, the government’s ...
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FeatureGlobal round up
Tender for new vehicles terminal at Lázaro CárdenasThe Mexican port of Lázaro Cárdenas will issue a tender for a new finished vehicles terminal in either November or December this year. This tender will require an investment of $40m. The eventual concession will be for a two-berth, 400,000m2 facility, although ...
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FeatureJohn Deere to centralise logistics in Asia
John Deere, the world’s largest agricultural equipment manufacturer, has plans to centralise its logistics organisation in Asia Pacific as it creates a new role for global logistics manager in the region, which will be filled this month by David Panjwani. Panjwani, who was most recently the global logistics manager responsible ...
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FeatureTshwane logistics hub planned for Pretoria
Blue IQ, an agency of The Gauteng Department of Economic Development in South Africa, has outlined a major new development for a logistics hub at Tshwane between the vehicle and component production centres at Rosslyn and Silverton in Pretoria. Ford and BMW both have assembly facilities in the area. According ...
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FeatureThe struggle for survival in Spain
Adapting to changeReflecting the marketHarbouring plans for the futureA massive drop in imports and subsequent over-reliance on the export market has left the Spanish vehicle logistics sector in a critical state. Barry Cross looks at how manufacturers and providers are working to ensure a healthy prognosis for the industry.The Spanish ...
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FeatureDisruption spreads in Thailand
More details have come to light on the impact on automotive production in Thailand as floods continue to devastate central, north and northeastern areas of the country, with Toyota and Ford joining Honda in plant shutdowns due to the direct flooding of facilities and the impact on the supply chain. ...
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FeatureGlobal round up
Horizon saved from bankruptcyHorizon Lines, the US domestic ocean shipping and integrated logistics company, has concluded a comprehensive financial restructuring programme worth $653m to fund ongoing operations and protect the company from bankruptcy. “We now have a new capital structure that eliminates the refinancing uncertainty faced by our company over ...
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FeatureSchenker begins BMW rail moves to Shenyang
DB Schenker has confirmed that it will begin regular rail shipments of CKD kits for BMW from its new $33m Leipzig logistics centre in Germany to BMW’s joint venture assembly plant in Shenyang, northeastern China from next month. The Shenyang plant is run as part of BMW’s joint venture with ...
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FeatureGetting China on the right track
Specialised rail wagonsPriority conflictsWeighing up the costsThe damage questionRail versus road in the China contextChanging paceGuarded optimismWith finished vehicles way down the list of priorities for Chinese railways compared to passengers and with the cost of road haulage low, Ellen Hua examines the long-term prospects for increasing rail for vehicle ...
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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 ...
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FeatureThe Moroccan connection
Thomas Cullen analyses Renault’s ambitious plan to produce nearly half a million cars a year at a new manufacturing complex in the Moroccan port of Tangiers.Tangiers-Med port;Tangiers-Med industrial complex;Logistics at Renault Tanger;Incipient revolution?.Renault has announced its intention to open a fully built-up assembly plant producing 400,000 cars a year in ...
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FeatureStaying afloat on shifting seas
Shipping lines reign in capacityA more complex networkA quick recovery from earthquakeTough market for European short-seaCould emission regulation benefit road transport?From financial crises to environmental disasters, the ro-ro market has weathered an almost perfect storm in the last few years. With tougher emission rules in the offing and new-building at ...
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FeatureIndian aftermarket is no afterthought
Growing sales and ever-increasing customer expectations are driving a transformation in the Indian aftermarket.Complexity and potential for change;Broadening the reach.The automotive aftermarket is not so-named because OEMs think about it after they have developed their new vehicle sales channels, but in developing markets that is often the way things work. ...
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FeatureGlobal round up
GMSA chooses Motorvia for vehicle deliveriesSouth African finished vehicle carrier Motorvia is to start carrying vehicles for General Motors South Africa (GMSA) following a successful tender for business approved last week. The new agreement will run for three years. Uitenhage-based Motorvia provides specialised vehicle transport and delivery services for ...
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FeatureGlobal round up
Mahindra exports global platform SUVIndian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra has said it will export its new XUV500 SUV to South Africa at the same time that domestic sales begin in December this year, with further plans for export to Western Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia and Australia. The car, which ...
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FeatureSurprise departures as Fiat reorganises
The widespread organisational changes at Fiat that were announced at the end of July have now taken effect and not without some surprise departures from the supply chain and commercial departments, namely Paola Petrone (pictured left), who was senior vice president of Supply Chain Management, and Andrea Formica (pictured right), ...
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FeatureGM to ship China made CKDs to India
GM’s joint venture with Chinese OEM SAIC will begin shipping microvan CKD kits for assembly in India from next year. SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile (SGMW) will produce the kits at its facility in Liuzhou for assembly at two plants in India: the Halol facility near Baroda and the Talegaon plant near Pune. ...
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FeatureGlobal round up
In response to a growth in demand, Asian logistics provider Kerry Logistics has started work on the expansion of its Chongqing Logistics Centre in China with a focus that includes automotive spare parts. Phase 2 construction, which is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2013, will comprise 62,700m2 ...