United European Car Carriers (UECC) has started a regular weekly service for vehicle shipments between the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands and the northern Spanish ports of Pasajes and Santander. The service is also handling high and heavy, breakbulk and project cargo shipments.
UECC’s short-sea ro-ro vessel Auto Sky, which has a 2,000 vehicle capacity, called at the port of Rotterdam and discharged vehicles at the automotive terminal compound operated by finished vehicle logistics provider, Broekman Automotive. As well as terminal operations including vehicle handling, pre-delivery inspection, storage and other value-added services, Broekman is operating as a port agent for the UECC vessels at Rotterdam.
Broekman’s terminal has an 800 metre berth and a 5,000-square metre warehouse. As well as ro-ro cargo, the terminal is able to handle multipurpose cargo.
DHL works with Faurecia on JLR deliveries
DHL Supply Chain has signed a new contract with component supplier Faurecia to provide sequenced deliveries of Range Rover door interiors from the tier one supplier’s manufacturing plant in Fradley, UK to the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Solihull.
The Solihull plant moved to 24 hour production earlier this year to meet increasing global demand and Faurecia was tasked with developing a new logistics solution to guarantee just-in-time and just-in-sequence parts delivery to the assembly line.
In response, DHL now operates three 7.5 tonne vehicles, providing sequenced loads to the plant every 60 minutes. Each vehicle is fitted with track-and-trace technology to monitor progress and send alerts about any delays that could affect production. In addition, all drivers have been trained to comply with Jaguar Land Rover safety standards when on site.
“By drawing on our in depth knowledge of both Faurecia and Jaguar Land Rover’s operating requirements we have been able to provide a robust and cost effective solution specific to the customer’s needs,” said Steve Corbett, general manager - automotive transport, DHL Supply Chain.
Nissan employs South Korean trailers
Nissan has started using trailers from South Korea in Japan as part of a new transport strategy designed to allow trailers registered in either country to operate on public roads in both. Since July last year Nissan has been participating in a pilot project established following an agreement signed at the fourth China-Japan-Korea Ministerial Conference on Transport and Logistics.
The project allows a trailer that is registered in one country to skip reloading its cargo onto a different trailer at the other country's port after it has been transported by sea, and proceed directly onto roads in the destination country. This enables a more efficient distribution process for cross-border transportation of goods said the company.
Japanese trailers began operating on South Korean roads in October 2012.
A joint ceremony was held at Nissan's plant in Kyushu recently, with participants from Nippon Express and Nissan Motor Kyushu, together with guests including officials from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the South Korean Embassy in Japan.
Nissan Corporate vice president, Toshifumi Hirai, who attended the ceremony, said: "This simplified logistics process between Japan and South Korea will strengthen the competitiveness of manufacturers and help revitalise the economy of both countries. I would like to thank the governments of both countries for their significant contribution and cooperation."
LeanCor teams with SJTU on logistics training
Logistics 3PL LeanCor Supply Chain Group has set up a partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) to offer a three-course lean training certificate programme for supply chain and logistics professionals.
LeanCor said the training programme was established in response to a great demand for logistics efficiency in China. It cited figures from a joint study by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, which showed that China's logistics costs increased 18.5% year-on-year to reach RMB 8.4 trillion yuan ($1.33 trillion) in 2011.
“The China Lean Supply Chain Certificate Program will enable professionals to implement strategic and tactical elements of lean principles in the supply chain,” said LeanCor in a statement. “Results of the programme include improved supplier performance and a reduction in lead time and total logistics cost.”
The China Lean Supply Chain Certificate Program is made up of three, three-day courses: Lean Problem Solving, Lean Supply Chain, and Lean Leadership.
