Month: September 2020

Qatar Airways Cargo is delighted to announce that Kirsten de Bruijn has joined the Airline in the capacity of Senior Vice President, Cargo Sales and Network Planning. With 13 years of experience in management in the air cargo industry, she shares Qatar Airways belief that the pace of change brought about by recent global events demands value-centred leadership around revenue and margin management.

“The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated the need for flexibility and agility. It has also fast-tracked demand for digitalization. Optimizing the utilization of freighters, the network, pricing and processes will mean embracing digital as the central vector of change. Qatar Airways is a world leader in this space and our ability to constantly adapt and adjust will continue to be part of the fundamental premise of our air cargo strategy,” said Guillaume Halleux, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways.

According to Halleux, de Bruijn was the obvious choice: “We share the same vision of the industry and Kirsten perfectly understands the sector’s demands – as well as its volatility and its extremely competitive nature. She is able to challenge existing processes thanks to her customer-focused vision and extremely high standards. She is a major asset to the Airline.”

de Bruijn said, “Air cargo is probably one of the most competitive industries out there. It means you have to find ways to avoid being commoditized and you have to think globally – to constantly be aware of the speed with which technology is changing how we do business. Qatar Airways Cargo represents the cutting edge of change in the global air cargo market. I want to be a part of that movement. Part of my role is to build a sense of team spirit and collective purpose. I like to hire people that are better at what they do than I am, so I can create the best team possible.”

Abu Dhabi Ports, part of ADQ, has announced another step in its drive to enhance the emirate’s rank as an international hub for trade and logistics with the acquisition of MICCO Logistics. With the integration of MICCOAbu Dhabi Ports Logistics, the Group’s logistical arm aims to set itself apart from the competition. Abu Dhabi Ports Logistics leverages MICCO’s experience and capabilities as a provider of end-to-end logistics solutions.

Thanks to the combination of MICCO’s international and regional logistics solutions, its large and diversified transportation fleet, and a network of temperature-controlled warehouses, along with the Group’s extensive multi cargo handling and industrial zone capacity, Abu Dhabi Ports is in a position to serve its customers along every segment of the supply chain. The added capacity enables the organisation to manage all customer touch points including: sourcing; PO management; international freight handling through Project, Commercial, and Contract Logistics; customs clearance; stevedoring; local, regional, and international transportation; Airline Road Feeder Services; and, storage, order fulfilment and handling solutions via its strategically located network of distribution centres.

Abu Dhabi Ports’ enhanced logistics portfolio will ensure that it remains a leading provider of logistics services for the energy sector, while at the same time it expands its value offer to other strategic sectors including retail, e-fulfilment, FMCG and pharmaceutical/healthcare. H.E. Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi, Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports and Chief Investment Officer at ADQ, commented: “We are collaborating with Abu Dhabi Ports to transform its logistics arm into one of the largest, most capable and most cost-efficient providers of fully integrated and holistic logistics solutions in the UAE and beyond. This reflects ADQ’s key role in stimulating economic development and growth through our logistics cluster while further strengthening Abu Dhabi Ports’ strategic position as a leading provider of integrated port and industrial zone services, and a facilitator of global maritime trade and logistics.”

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “The acquisition of MICCO is a critical step in our emirate’s journey to establish itself as a leading hub within the global trade and supply chains. “The combined advantage of both organisations means that Abu Dhabi Ports will be able to compete on the regional and global stage as a provider of holistic logistics solutions, enhancing what we offer to both existing and prospective customers, while at the same time furthering our contribution to Abu Dhabi’s non-oil GDP and the government’s diversification efforts.”

Robert Sutton, Head of Abu Dhabi Ports Logistics Cluster, said: “Aligning directly with Abu Dhabi Ports’ growth strategy, the integration of MICCO has enabled us as an organisation to both enhance our service offering, while also meet the needs of a broader global market. Our greatly expanded capacity to deliver a wide spectrum of services across the entire supply chain has also opened doors for us to target new opportunities in segments that have been traditionally underserved, including FMCG and healthcare. With the addition of MICCO, we are truly connecting the world with the Gulf and beyond.”

Founded in 1978, MICCO Logistics is one of the first local freight forwarders established in Abu Dhabi and one of the first businesses to offer consolidated freight services to the emirate’s oil and gas industry. With a modern ground fleet comprised of more than 350 prime movers with diversified fleet of trailers, specialised storage facilities, MICCO’s diverse portfolio of logistics solutions includes freight management in Project, Contract, and Commercial Logistics, multi-modal transport, warehousing and distribution, stevedoring, as well as road feeder services for the aviation segment. As the first logistics company to establish its presence in the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), MICCO’s distribution centre includes several temperature-controlled warehousing services that are ideally suited for storing sensitive cargo for extended periods.

Global intralogistics company Dematic has announced a new contract with Reitan Distribution A/S in Horsens, Denmark. Reitan Distribution A/S supplies groceries to more than 900 stores throughout Denmark.

Dematic was tasked with designing a high-performance automated solution to facilitate and enable increased delivery frequency and service levels to stores, while supporting Reitan’s growth strategy over the next few years. Reitan’s current logistics centre at Marsalle is approximately 57,000 square metres. In recent years, the business has grown to such a degree that it has become necessary to expand in the form of new and more modern storage facilities.

The extended warehouse will add a further 30,000 square metres and will include high bay pallet storage. Built adjacent to the existing warehouse with a bridge between them, the new facility — purpose-designed to house Dematic’s automation solution — will run for 21 hours a day, six days a week andserve over 400 dry goods orders a day. Approximately 130,000 cases will be picked, packed and distributed every day from the new system, with robotic systems handling a significant proportion of daily operations. The automation solution will increase the delivery frequency of the 600 most popular products to the REMA 1000 grocery store franchisees and reduce overall costs by improving operational efficiency.

The new warehouse facility is expected to commence operations by early 2023.

The TGW Logistics Group with headquarters in Marchtrenk has successfully completed its 2019-20 financial year (1 July 2019 through 30 June 2020). The turnover of the intralogistics specialist has grown from 719 million to 835.8 million euros. This means that the company has set a new record for highest turnover in its fifty-year history. The number of employees has also increased significantly. The company has added more than 250, reaching a total of 3,667. Thus, TGW is continuing the trend of stable growth that we have had over the last few years.

In 2019-20 TGW recorded commissions received of 822 million euros – in Europe, the United States and China. As Harald Schröpf, CEO of TGW Logistics Group, emphasises, “many companies commissioned TGW with the automation of their intralogistics over the past financial year – from Urban Outfitters to Zalando and even the Austrian fashion dealer Personalshop. We were able to increase our turnover by 16 percent compared to the previous year.”

The EBIT amounts to 37.1 million euros – after 27.9 million over the period of the previous year. This corresponds to an increase of more than 33 percent. As a foundation-owned company, TGW can never be sold. Entrepreneurial action and social responsibility are inseparably linked at TGW. Two-thirds of profits stay in the company and are reinvested – in our employees, our infrastructure and the innovations of tomorrow. Thus, TGW is a stable business partner and reliable employer. In addition, ten percent of profits go to charitable projects of the Future Wings foundation. These projects focus on comprehensive personal development of children and young people. TGW is paying a dual employee participation at a total of 4.1 million euros to its employees and is doing so for the third time. In the interest of transparency and fairness, all employees receive the same base amount – regardless of whether they work in Austria, China or the U.S.

TGW has grown by approximately 250 employees in the completed financial year. In the current financial year, the company is again poised to grow and is searching for employees, mainly for its software, controlling and project management areas. Schröpf says, “Well-trained, motivated employees are the basis for our success, especially in an industry that is as dynamic and highly innovative as intralogistics. In order to be able to implement our growth strategy successfully, we are planning to expand by more than 400 employees in the current financial year and leap over the 4000 employee mark.”

Logistics and distribution company Hermes recruited the first group of employees to its new LGV driver apprenticeship programme, run in partnership with skills specialist Seetec Outsource, in the summer of 2019, and the first five of these apprentices are now fully qualified with an additional five to follow later this year. 

The vital role played by delivery drivers has been thrown into sharp focus during the coronavirus pandemic. By investing in driving apprenticeships, Hermes is better able to meet increased demand. 

According to the Freight Transport Association’s 2019 logistics report, 15% of lorry driver vacancies were expected to remain unfilled. There are also concerns about the ageing workforce and the impact of Brexit.

Jenny Haynes, Learning and Development Business Partner at Hermes, explained: “Working in partnership with Seetec Outsource, we were able to fund vital training for young people coming into the logistics industry. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown just how important it is to create a talent pipeline to enable our industry to flourish and help the economic recovery.” 

Nikki Bardsley, Director of Apprenticeship Operations from Seetec Outsource, added: “Helping young people to learn new skills through an apprenticeship is often a life changing experience. It allows young people to achieve their full potential and pursue a rewarding career. Investment in skills is crucial as the country responds to the social and economic challenges presented by the pandemic. Hermes is a forward-thinking company committed to empowering people to achieve. This type of apprenticeship programme could be adopted by more companies to help source new talent and support the wider national mission to tackle unemployment post-lockdown.”