Duisburg DC marks developer’s market entry

BEOS Logistics, a joint venture between Swiss Life Asset Managers, Ingo Steves and Stephan Bone-Winkel, is developing an 85,000 sq m logistics facility close to the ports of DeltaPort Niederrheinhäfen on the Rhine and Lippe rivers in Wesel near Duisburg for a global logistics service provider.

BEOS Logistics acquired the site from the DeltaPort Niederrheinhäfen group of ports. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. As the general contractor, the List Group is responsible for the construction works, which are scheduled to start in spring 2022 for completion in summer 2023.

“Besides this first project, our pipeline is well stocked and will allow us to grow rapidly,” says Ingo Steves, Managing Partner of BEOS Logistics. “With this project, we have created an excellent win-win situation for the tenant, Delta-Port and BEOS Logistics. While the port location, with its outstanding connections, is particularly attractive for us and the tenant, DeltaPort benefits from having a long-term user and investor in place.

“What brought all of the stakeholders together, however, was primarily the focus on a solution in which sustainability plays a leading role,” says Steves. The partners’ commitment to sustainability means that the state-of-the-art property will strive for BREEAM “Excellent” certification and substantial investments will be made to enhance other sustainability features throughout the facility.

The property is being developed on a 165,000 sq m greenfield site. The majority of the leasable space (81,400 sq m) will be logistics space. In addition, the new complex will also accommodate 1,600 sq m of office and social and 2,700 sq m of mezzanine space. While the facility is leased on a long-term basis to the single tenant, the space is also flexibly designed for division into up to 10 units for different occupiers. The development will also include 37 parking spaces for heavy goods vehicles and 200 for cars.

The site of the new facility benefits not only from direct access to the Rhine-Lippe port, but also from convenient access to the B8 and A3 highways, both of which link to major logistics routes. Given its proximity to the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp, the region also serves as a hinterland hub for international goods traffic, which has led to the above-average settlement of wholesalers.

At the same time, the location offers access to the Ruhr and Cologne/Bonn regions. Overall, the Duisburg/Lower Rhine region has one of the most efficient infrastructures and is one of the most flexible logistics hubs in Germany.

Duisburg DC marks developer’s market entry

BEOS Logistics, a joint venture between Swiss Life Asset Managers, Ingo Steves and Stephan Bone-Winkel, is developing an 85,000 sq m logistics facility close to the ports of DeltaPort Niederrheinhäfen on the Rhine and Lippe rivers in Wesel near Duisburg for a global logistics service provider.

BEOS Logistics acquired the site from the DeltaPort Niederrheinhäfen group of ports. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. As the general contractor, the List Group is responsible for the construction works, which are scheduled to start in spring 2022 for completion in summer 2023.

“Besides this first project, our pipeline is well stocked and will allow us to grow rapidly,” says Ingo Steves, Managing Partner of BEOS Logistics. “With this project, we have created an excellent win-win situation for the tenant, Delta-Port and BEOS Logistics. While the port location, with its outstanding connections, is particularly attractive for us and the tenant, DeltaPort benefits from having a long-term user and investor in place.

“What brought all of the stakeholders together, however, was primarily the focus on a solution in which sustainability plays a leading role,” says Steves. The partners’ commitment to sustainability means that the state-of-the-art property will strive for BREEAM “Excellent” certification and substantial investments will be made to enhance other sustainability features throughout the facility.

The property is being developed on a 165,000 sq m greenfield site. The majority of the leasable space (81,400 sq m) will be logistics space. In addition, the new complex will also accommodate 1,600 sq m of office and social and 2,700 sq m of mezzanine space. While the facility is leased on a long-term basis to the single tenant, the space is also flexibly designed for division into up to 10 units for different occupiers. The development will also include 37 parking spaces for heavy goods vehicles and 200 for cars.

The site of the new facility benefits not only from direct access to the Rhine-Lippe port, but also from convenient access to the B8 and A3 highways, both of which link to major logistics routes. Given its proximity to the ports of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp, the region also serves as a hinterland hub for international goods traffic, which has led to the above-average settlement of wholesalers.

At the same time, the location offers access to the Ruhr and Cologne/Bonn regions. Overall, the Duisburg/Lower Rhine region has one of the most efficient infrastructures and is one of the most flexible logistics hubs in Germany.

nShift acquires Danish delivery management platform

nShift, a global provider of cloud delivery management solutions for e-commerce shops, retailers, manufacturers and third-party logistics companies has acquired Webshipper. Webshipper is a leading e-commerce cloud delivery management platform, serving over 5,000 e-commerce stores in Denmark, including Hummel, Miinto, Message, Pilgrim, and Shaping New Tomorrow.

Following nShift’s launch in August 2021, Webshipper will become the company’s second acquisition, as it continues to increase its extensive library of 700+ carriers and expand its 90,000+ strong customer base internationally. By integrating Webshipper’s user-friendly interface, advanced back-end technology and prominent support model, Webshipper will further advance nShift’s capabilities as a global leader in cloud delivery management.

“We have experienced tremendous growth as a company, with revenue increasing more than 100% over the last year, and the team quadrupling in size in just two years,” said Thomas Andersen, CEO and founder of Webshipper. “We are now delighted to be joining the growing nShift family and to be working alongside some of the world’s most innovative technology providers in the shipping and logistics sector. As a part of nShift, we look forward to being able to continue the momentum we have created and benefit from the infrastructure and network that nShift has to offer.”

Webshipper is the first Danish company to be acquired by nShift and will join Sweden-based Returnado (rebranded to nShift Return since its acquisition by nShift) in adding critical technology to nShift’s cloud delivery management platform. nShift is owned by two leading technology investors, Francisco Partners and Marlin Equity Partners, both of which are supportive of nShift offering their customers the most innovative full suite of shipping features, widest geographic coverage and deepest domain knowledge and technical expertise available in the market.

“We have been extremely impressed at how quickly Webshipper have scaled their offering, and are excited to begin embedding its frictionless automated shipping technology and bolster our wide portfolio of advanced cloud delivery management solutions for our customers,” added Lars Pedersen, CEO of nShift.“This latest acquisition further demonstrates our commitment to becoming the most innovative player in the business, to continuously enhance and improve the delivery management journey for our customers.”

nShift acquires Danish delivery management platform

nShift, a global provider of cloud delivery management solutions for e-commerce shops, retailers, manufacturers and third-party logistics companies has acquired Webshipper. Webshipper is a leading e-commerce cloud delivery management platform, serving over 5,000 e-commerce stores in Denmark, including Hummel, Miinto, Message, Pilgrim, and Shaping New Tomorrow.

Following nShift’s launch in August 2021, Webshipper will become the company’s second acquisition, as it continues to increase its extensive library of 700+ carriers and expand its 90,000+ strong customer base internationally. By integrating Webshipper’s user-friendly interface, advanced back-end technology and prominent support model, Webshipper will further advance nShift’s capabilities as a global leader in cloud delivery management.

“We have experienced tremendous growth as a company, with revenue increasing more than 100% over the last year, and the team quadrupling in size in just two years,” said Thomas Andersen, CEO and founder of Webshipper. “We are now delighted to be joining the growing nShift family and to be working alongside some of the world’s most innovative technology providers in the shipping and logistics sector. As a part of nShift, we look forward to being able to continue the momentum we have created and benefit from the infrastructure and network that nShift has to offer.”

Webshipper is the first Danish company to be acquired by nShift and will join Sweden-based Returnado (rebranded to nShift Return since its acquisition by nShift) in adding critical technology to nShift’s cloud delivery management platform. nShift is owned by two leading technology investors, Francisco Partners and Marlin Equity Partners, both of which are supportive of nShift offering their customers the most innovative full suite of shipping features, widest geographic coverage and deepest domain knowledge and technical expertise available in the market.

“We have been extremely impressed at how quickly Webshipper have scaled their offering, and are excited to begin embedding its frictionless automated shipping technology and bolster our wide portfolio of advanced cloud delivery management solutions for our customers,” added Lars Pedersen, CEO of nShift.“This latest acquisition further demonstrates our commitment to becoming the most innovative player in the business, to continuously enhance and improve the delivery management journey for our customers.”

Schmitz Cargobull breaks ground in Spain

Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica has held the official groundbreaking ceremony for its new plant in Figueruelas (Spain). The company is investing around €19m in the construction of its new production facility, which is scheduled to go into operation in August 2022, with more than 280 employees and a production capacity of 60 vehicles per day.

The new plant, which is being built just 3km away from the existing factory, covers a total area of 104,000 sq m: 16,400 sq m will be used for production and logistics, 2,000 sq m for offices on three floors, plus a depot housing new and used vehicles.

“I’m very proud of Schmitz Cargobull’s development in Spain,” said Andreas Schmitz, Chairman of the Board of Schmitz Cargobull AG, at the groiundbreaking event on 15th September 20201. “When we started this project in 2002, our production forecast was five semi-trailers per day. Today, we are producing 20 vehicles a day and our aim is to increase production capacity to 22 units a day by the end of 2021. With the new production plant and our own new foaming line for the production of refrigerated trailers, we’ll be able to produce up to 60 vehicles a day.”

As at the existing factory, all products from the product lines S.CS curtainsiders, S.KO refrigerated semi-trailers, M.KO truck box bodies and S.BO steel boxes for the Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and African markets will be manufactured at the new plant.

In the last five years Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica has doubled both sales and the number of units produced compared to the previous five years, achieving sales of €130m with around 4,000 units per year.

“Thanks to this increase in demand, our headcount has grown by more than 60% on average. We are now working tirelessly to commission the new facility, which could even enable us to triple the volume,” explains Jordi Romero, Managing Director of Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica.

Also present at the groundbreaking ceremony was Carlos Javier Navarro, General Director for Industry (Government of Aragon), who also supported the founding of Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica in 2002. He explained that the Aragon region values family entrepreneurs like Andreas Schmitz, who are able to build a project from scratch, make it grow and consolidate it. Decisions such as the construction of the new Schmitz Cargobull plant confirm that the region is also of interest internationally for companies seeking to establish industrial locations.

Schmitz Cargobull breaks ground in Spain

Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica has held the official groundbreaking ceremony for its new plant in Figueruelas (Spain). The company is investing around €19m in the construction of its new production facility, which is scheduled to go into operation in August 2022, with more than 280 employees and a production capacity of 60 vehicles per day.

The new plant, which is being built just 3km away from the existing factory, covers a total area of 104,000 sq m: 16,400 sq m will be used for production and logistics, 2,000 sq m for offices on three floors, plus a depot housing new and used vehicles.

“I’m very proud of Schmitz Cargobull’s development in Spain,” said Andreas Schmitz, Chairman of the Board of Schmitz Cargobull AG, at the groiundbreaking event on 15th September 20201. “When we started this project in 2002, our production forecast was five semi-trailers per day. Today, we are producing 20 vehicles a day and our aim is to increase production capacity to 22 units a day by the end of 2021. With the new production plant and our own new foaming line for the production of refrigerated trailers, we’ll be able to produce up to 60 vehicles a day.”

As at the existing factory, all products from the product lines S.CS curtainsiders, S.KO refrigerated semi-trailers, M.KO truck box bodies and S.BO steel boxes for the Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and African markets will be manufactured at the new plant.

In the last five years Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica has doubled both sales and the number of units produced compared to the previous five years, achieving sales of €130m with around 4,000 units per year.

“Thanks to this increase in demand, our headcount has grown by more than 60% on average. We are now working tirelessly to commission the new facility, which could even enable us to triple the volume,” explains Jordi Romero, Managing Director of Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica.

Also present at the groundbreaking ceremony was Carlos Javier Navarro, General Director for Industry (Government of Aragon), who also supported the founding of Schmitz Cargobull Ibérica in 2002. He explained that the Aragon region values family entrepreneurs like Andreas Schmitz, who are able to build a project from scratch, make it grow and consolidate it. Decisions such as the construction of the new Schmitz Cargobull plant confirm that the region is also of interest internationally for companies seeking to establish industrial locations.

Timber federation calls for action on labour shortage

The Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) has called for the government to help it address acute labour shortages across the UK.

In a letter to the UK’s Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, TIMCON President John Dye (pictured) said a lack of staff in the pallet and packaging sector is “impacting severely on the transportation of essential goods and other UK supply chains, with delivery delays and…empty retail shelves”.

A continual supply of new repaired wooden pallets is vital to the supply of categories such as food, drink, and pharmaceuticals, including Covid vaccines.

The pallet and packaging sector employs workers from EU sources including Latvia, Poland and Romania. Since the conclusion of Brexit on 1st January, availability of labour from these countries has decreased dramatically, which, added to staff shortages caused by COVID, is having a serious impact on the industry’s production and repair capacity.

Dye called for the government to urgently roll out a solution like the Seasonal Workers scheme, which allows the horticultural sector to recruit from overseas on a temporary but regular basis.

“It is really frustrating that, despite the recognition of the wooden pallet and packaging sector’s essential role in keeping supply chains moving, there is no assistance for us in recruiting staff during this difficult time,” said Dye. “We are calling on the government to review this situation as a matter of urgency and roll out a similar scheme to the Seasonal Workers programme. Without this, this situation will become more serious, particularly in the run up to Christmas.”

Timber federation calls for action on labour shortage

The Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) has called for the government to help it address acute labour shortages across the UK.

In a letter to the UK’s Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, TIMCON President John Dye (pictured) said a lack of staff in the pallet and packaging sector is “impacting severely on the transportation of essential goods and other UK supply chains, with delivery delays and…empty retail shelves”.

A continual supply of new repaired wooden pallets is vital to the supply of categories such as food, drink, and pharmaceuticals, including Covid vaccines.

The pallet and packaging sector employs workers from EU sources including Latvia, Poland and Romania. Since the conclusion of Brexit on 1st January, availability of labour from these countries has decreased dramatically, which, added to staff shortages caused by COVID, is having a serious impact on the industry’s production and repair capacity.

Dye called for the government to urgently roll out a solution like the Seasonal Workers scheme, which allows the horticultural sector to recruit from overseas on a temporary but regular basis.

“It is really frustrating that, despite the recognition of the wooden pallet and packaging sector’s essential role in keeping supply chains moving, there is no assistance for us in recruiting staff during this difficult time,” said Dye. “We are calling on the government to review this situation as a matter of urgency and roll out a similar scheme to the Seasonal Workers programme. Without this, this situation will become more serious, particularly in the run up to Christmas.”

Logistics Business represents UK on IFOY jury

The IFOY organisation has appointed three new jurors, including Peter MacLeod, news editor of Logistics Business in the UK. He will be joined on the panel by Rosa Maria Cherubini, managing editor at Il Giornale della Logistica in Italy, and Klaus Koch, editor-in-chief at the online magazine LogisticsInnovation.org in Switzerland.

Klaus Koch, who was already part of the IFOY jury in his previous role as editor-in-chief of the Swiss magazine Logistik & Fördertechnik, was re-elected to the board in his new position. He is supported by Christian Doepgen as proxy, editor-in-chief and publishing director of the International Transport Journal (ITJ) based in Basel. Both intend to work together to make IFOY jury decisions in the future and will be advised by material handling equipment and safety expert Martin Schmid. Schmid is the owner and managing director of LogisticsInnovation.org.

Peter MacLeod was also part of the IFOY jury several years ago as editor-in-chief of SHD Logistics in the UK. He returns to the committee in his role as news editor responsible for the online section of Logistics Business.

Rosa Maria Cherubini from Italy, also newly elected to the jury, takes over from Maurizio Peruzzi, who is retiring. As his proxy, Cherubini has already been active in the IFOY jury in the past. Rosa Maria Cherubini is responsible for intralogistics at the magazine Il Giornale della Logistica.

This means that a total of 26 representatives of leading international logistics publications from 20 nations are represented on the IFOY jury. They will have the opportunity to test and judge the world’s best new developments among intralogistics products and solutions again at the beginning of 2022.

The application phase for the IFOY AWARD 2022 is currently underway and suppliers of products and solutions can still apply with their new products and warehouse projects in a total of 13 categories until 30th October, 2021. Start-ups also have the chance to win a trophy.

Due to its expertise, the IFOY AWARD is considered the most important innovation prize in intralogistics. The election is preceded by an extensive audit with nomination and test cycles. The equipment and solutions nominated for the final undergo individually tailored driving or functional tests, including the IFOY test protocol comprising around 80 criteria and the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, on the occasion of the IFOY TEST DAYS from 18-23 March, 2022 at the Messe Dortmund exhibition centre.

In addition, jurors and their teams of advisors from the business world will travel to examine the finalists themselves before casting their vote. As part of IFOY TEST DAYS, TEST CAMP Intralogistics will be held again in 2022, admitting B2B trade visitors interested in innovation. The number of participants is limited.

Applications for the Award can only be submitted via the Internet at www.ifoy.org.

Logistics Business represents UK on IFOY jury

The IFOY organisation has appointed three new jurors, including Peter MacLeod, news editor of Logistics Business in the UK. He will be joined on the panel by Rosa Maria Cherubini, managing editor at Il Giornale della Logistica in Italy, and Klaus Koch, editor-in-chief at the online magazine LogisticsInnovation.org in Switzerland.

Klaus Koch, who was already part of the IFOY jury in his previous role as editor-in-chief of the Swiss magazine Logistik & Fördertechnik, was re-elected to the board in his new position. He is supported by Christian Doepgen as proxy, editor-in-chief and publishing director of the International Transport Journal (ITJ) based in Basel. Both intend to work together to make IFOY jury decisions in the future and will be advised by material handling equipment and safety expert Martin Schmid. Schmid is the owner and managing director of LogisticsInnovation.org.

Peter MacLeod was also part of the IFOY jury several years ago as editor-in-chief of SHD Logistics in the UK. He returns to the committee in his role as news editor responsible for the online section of Logistics Business.

Rosa Maria Cherubini from Italy, also newly elected to the jury, takes over from Maurizio Peruzzi, who is retiring. As his proxy, Cherubini has already been active in the IFOY jury in the past. Rosa Maria Cherubini is responsible for intralogistics at the magazine Il Giornale della Logistica.

This means that a total of 26 representatives of leading international logistics publications from 20 nations are represented on the IFOY jury. They will have the opportunity to test and judge the world’s best new developments among intralogistics products and solutions again at the beginning of 2022.

The application phase for the IFOY AWARD 2022 is currently underway and suppliers of products and solutions can still apply with their new products and warehouse projects in a total of 13 categories until 30th October, 2021. Start-ups also have the chance to win a trophy.

Due to its expertise, the IFOY AWARD is considered the most important innovation prize in intralogistics. The election is preceded by an extensive audit with nomination and test cycles. The equipment and solutions nominated for the final undergo individually tailored driving or functional tests, including the IFOY test protocol comprising around 80 criteria and the scientific IFOY Innovation Check, on the occasion of the IFOY TEST DAYS from 18-23 March, 2022 at the Messe Dortmund exhibition centre.

In addition, jurors and their teams of advisors from the business world will travel to examine the finalists themselves before casting their vote. As part of IFOY TEST DAYS, TEST CAMP Intralogistics will be held again in 2022, admitting B2B trade visitors interested in innovation. The number of participants is limited.

Applications for the Award can only be submitted via the Internet at www.ifoy.org.

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