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All articles by Anthony Coia
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FeatureThe building blocks of demand
China and Europe are far apart, not just in terms of distance, but also culturally, economically and politically. Yet they occupy the same Eurasian land mass and trade between the two regions has been growing strongly. That includes automotive freight, with parts and vehicles moving in greater numbers in both ...
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FeatureSmart packaging: The quest for greater precision
Packaging is one area in the automotive supply chain in which greater connectivity and ‘internet of things’ (IoT) devices have the potential to make significant improvements. Many of the chronic issues that accompany the management and flow of equipment, including missing or incorrect containers, damage to parts, as well as ...
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FeatureVolkswagen OTC: Sea king of the Kassel
[sta_anchor id="1"]In many ways, the heart of Volkswagen Group After Sales – the OEM’s service parts and aftermarket division – is its massive Original Teile (Parts) Centre (OTC) in Baunatal, near Kassel, central Germany. This impressive storage and shipping centre serves destinations across the world, including European dealerships as well ...
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FeatureChina trucking: From overloaded to under capacity
China’s new road transport rules are prompting an evolution in the country’s vehicle logistics as suppliers redefine their networks to cope with changing truck limits – but investment is likely to be slowIn this story... A new phase for car carriers The capacity hit A centrist view Levelling the ...
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FeatureChangan Ford: The long and short of it
With new regulations leading to price rises and capacity shortages in road transport, Changan Ford is seeking rail and water alternatives where it can, as well as investment by its 3PLThe recent breakaway growth of vehicle production and sales in China – which accelerated in 2016 and has continued into ...
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FeatureEuropean ports: Sailing into a tide of protectionism?
The repercussions of last year’s political eruptions have yet to be felt in Europe’s ports and growth is expected to continue this year, bringing with it much-needed investment. But port operators and shipping companies remain on alert for any shift in trading patternsWhile last year was one of political earthquakes, ...
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FeatureUS car hauliers: Keeping all eyes on the road
Despite a levelling off in US vehicle sales, car carriers hope to carry on expanding as new technology makes them more efficient. But there are potholes to negotiate, as Automotive Logistics finds out...The car haulage industry in the United States has begun to experience the inevitable – a decline in ...
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FeatureCars in containers: Boxing above their weight
Suppliers of car container equipment are gaining ground by providing fast, flexible shipping options in specific global marketsIn this story... Racks and cassettes Electric cars light up the way Containing the situation in Asia Incorporating SKD kits Multimodal growth potential Shipping vehicles by container has long been an option for ...
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FeatureOcean container packaging: Hammering out a waste of space
More efforts are taking place to improve efficiency, cost and quality through the better use and construction of packaging within container transport The expansion of international supply chains has placed increased pressure on maximising the use of ocean containers when shipping global automotive parts. While freight rates, storage and port ...
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FeatureRobert Bosch 4.0: Keeping a close eye on technology
Tier one supplier Robert Bosch is broadening the role of IT and automation in its operations to boost supply chain efficiencyInformation technology continues to find new applications in handling the complexities of the automotive supply chain. Among other things, IT is playing an enhanced role in rationalising the automotive supply ...
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FeatureDamage limitation: Reducing damage drawn by design
Trends in vehicle evolution can add to the likelihood of damage in transit. While this can be partly mitigated by routing and planning, the vehicle logistics industry can struggle to adapt fast enough... A substantial increase in popular vehicle sizes in recent years has fuelled some of the logistics issues ...
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FeatureKia West Point: Midnight freight trains to Georgia
In this story... The need for precision A multi-party approach Paving the way A model for automotive Keeping a distanceThe use of an inland port in Cordele is helping carmaker Kia to achieve the reliable, transparent supply chain it requires at its 24-hour production operation in West Point, Georgia ...
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FeatureVolvo Trucks: High, heavy and smart
[sta_anchor id="1"]Volvo Trucks North America is improving its complex delivery network across the US, including investments in new technology and in supporting its carriersReflecting continued strength in the US economy as well as sustained low oil prices, last year saw strong growth for sales of medium-and-heavy trucks in the US. ...
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Feature2015 North American port survey: Ports get an extra lift from a rise in imports
[sta_anchor id="1"]Our annual survey found most ports are seeing strong imports across North America, leading (in some cases) to parking constraints and vessel bunching. The future may look different, but operators and OEMs need to get smart about spaceOur survey of North American ports for 2015 confirmed partly what we ...
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FeaturePackaging: Thinking smarter outside the box
[sta_anchor id="1"]Tracking technology is playing an ever greater role in the effectiveness of returnable packaging, but still has some way to go before it becomes ubiquitousTracking returnable containers, racks and pallets has come a long way during the past few years, and while barcoding is still the dominant technology, radio ...
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FeatureMahle Behr: Experiencing a Thermal change
Mahle Behr’s takeover of Delphi Thermal Systems in 2015 sparked a process of systems integration, freight consolidation and supply chain redesign that is set to last a further three years.Last year was a record one for global acquisition and mergers within the automotive supply chain. Consulting firm PwC estimated the ...
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FeatureEuropean ports survey: Rising volume and risky conditions
Our 2015 survey finds that, with imports in particular on the rise, some ports have experienced capacity issues despite investments in connectivity, capacity and information technology. Meanwhile, others are suffering as a result of geopolitical and broader economic instability. Contribution by Christopher LudwigAcross the European continent last year, from Scandinavia ...
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FeatureThe progress and possibilities of ePOD
Though it has been around for a while, the vehicle logistics world is only just beginning to catch on to the potential of ePOD, especially in North America, where mandates and standards are setting the coursePaperless transactions have been ubiquitous in the transfer of goods and services for more than ...
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No one size fits all
Close analysis of damage rates, transport efficiency and handling procedures are necessary to meet the complex and diverse packaging needs of aftermarket distributionPackaging for spare parts requires a multitude of different materials and equipment depending not only on the type of part being moved, but where it is in the ...
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FeatureJapan: The ripple effects of a global sea change
While it remains the top exporter of finished vehicles, Japan has shifted from its central role in the global vehicle trade, with shipping companies adjusting their strategies accordinglyJapan has been the world’s top exporter of vehicles for decades, and it remains renowned for its quality of manufacturing as well as ...